Inquisition - Ominous Doctrines of the Perpetual Mystical Macrocosm
No Colours Records
Black Metal
10 songs (41:50)
Release year: 2010
No Colours Records
Reviewed by Kyle
Album of the month

It may have taken over twelve years, but two-piece Colombian black metal outfit Inquisition has finally made an album that lives up to the talent displayed in its debut full-length. Not only does Ominous Doctrines of the Perpetual Mystical Macrocosm sport a long, convoluted album title, but it also easily matches (and perhaps, in some cases, surpasses) the quality the band’s underground classic Into the Infernal Regions of the Ancient Cult to boot! Inquisition’s core sound on that album remains fully intact here: Interesting songwriting, truckloads of crushing riffs, and frog croaks galore dominate the album from start to finish. While the sinister atmosphere Inquisition is known for may have been toned down a bit for this release when compared to previous outings (ODotPMM is what I would call a “Fun” black metal album), this makes the album a perfect jump-off point for newcomers to the band. In general, ODotPMM is a masterwork of riff-oriented black metal that is nothing short of an absolutely essential purchase.

But why did it take so long for Inquisition to release another album that’s this good? The band has released four full-lengths (including this one) since their debut, yet all of them (except for perhaps Nefarious Dismal Orations) have been little more than slight above-average black metal albums. With ODotPMM, on the other hand, Inquisition proves that one not need to be a Darkthrone clone in order to sound raw and malevolent. Guitar riffs here are hurled with full force at the listener, and long-time guitarist Dagon crafts some of the best passages of his career. The guitars chug, whine, gallop and shriek through forty minutes of black metal perfection, and the way the guitar tracks are layered is brilliant. ODotPMM may have better production than the average traditional black metal record, but as there are constantly two or three layered guitar tracks blaring simultaneously, the album comes across as so blisteringly chaotic that it rivals the rawest of black metal bands in terms of intensity. The unsettling nature of many of these riffs is prevalent throughout the album, yet the sheer number of them and the fact that they’re so damned unpredictable at times makes ODotPMM an absolute blast to listen to.

Drummer Incubus can play blast beats with the best of ‘em, yet his playing on ODotPMM’s title track and Desolate Funeral Chant shows a more restrained, thoughtful drumming style that fits flawlessly with the slow-paced nature of those songs. When he’s performing at his full potential, however, he is a perfect match for Dagon’s eccentric playing, and the sudden pattern switch-ups he performs are nearly as fantastic as the riffs themselves. Dagon once again tackles vocal duties in unique fashion – essentially, his voice sounds like it comes from the throat of a frog residing in Satan’s own personal swamp – yet with this release he doesn’t sound so annoyingly monotone as he has on past Inquisition albums. There’s no real evidence of vocal experimentation here as there was on, say, Invoking the Majestic Throne of Satan (the band’s second full-length), but that isn’t really missed, and Dagon gets a lot of mileage out of his signature style on ODotPMM.

And the songs themselves… wow. Just wow, folks. Command of the Dark Crown, Desolate Funeral Chant, and Hymn for a Dead Star may just be some of my new favorite black metal songs. In fact, all of the songs on ODotPMM effortlessly capture the visceral attitude of black metal in its purest form, and the album is completely addictive. I found myself listening to it thrice daily at times, and over a month after first hearing the album it still dominates my black metal playlist. Maybe it doesn’t break any new ground in our modern times where black metal’s experimental side is constantly evolving, but Ominous Doctrines of the Perpetual Mystical Macrocosm proves that traditional black metal still holds a valuable place in metal culture.

Killing Songs :
All
Kyle quoted 93 / 100
Other albums by Inquisition that we have reviewed:
Inquisition - Bloodshed Across the Empyrean Altar Beyond the Celestial Zenith reviewed by Goat and quoted 90 / 100
Inquisition - Obscure Verses for the Multiverse reviewed by Andy and quoted 94 / 100
Inquisition - Into the Infernal Regions of the Ancient Cult reviewed by Vrechek and quoted 92 / 100
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