Saturnian Mist in black metal terms is supposed to invoke something otherworldly and ethereal, but these Finns are anything but ambient and soft. In fact, for a long time I have not received a feeling of such unmistakable, complete and utter anger having listened to a record.

Some tracks on Gnostikoi Ha-Shaitan may come from within the typical black metal realm. Deranged black thrash with a woven in tremolo on The Regicide or melodic Horna-like moments of Temps-Des-Cranes may sound recognizable, but even there the leads tend to be aural hurtful moments and Zetekh’s voice is something very atypical, rarely to be experienced in black metal. No icy shrieks or leaves rustling somewhere in the woods, the man is one possessed irritated proselytizer, ranting and raving throughout the album. Barking from the pulpit on The Regicide to non-stop tirade of Sacrifice of Faces Unbroken, Zetekh is the centerpiece for Saturnian Mist, ripping his throat to shreds practically hardcore style. However, given opening clean ritualistic shouts in Bythos in Quintessence or the trance exaltation and soul departed female voice of Aura Mystica, Gnostikoi Ha-Shaitan may also be perceived as cultist and spiritual. Then, equipped with the booklet and having recognized the Mid-Eastern Omen motif in The Regicide, another interpretation of the album – that of the sacrificial bloody chanting calling for the dark forces advent – comes into focus.

Plain personal anger or Satanic sacramental proceedings, Gnostikoi Ha-Shaitan stomps through these cuts with their bottom section as a one churning cauldron, vacillating from hammering rhythmic riffs at the end of Bythos in Quintessence to the cacophonous pit on The Watcher’s Feast. Whenever a looping guitar (Sacrifice of Faces Unbroken) or searching synth melody (closing title track) enters this thundering fray, the attention is immediately drawn to it, Zetekh’s voice demanding and commanding your full senses surrender all the while.

Not for the weak of heart, Gnostikoi Ha-Shaitan is a lot more suitable for the red meat black metal lovers, however, if you only accept very traditional lo-fi screeching production and buzzsaw guitars, this album may actually broaden your horizons. Not an industrialized black metal in any way a la The Amenta or famous Moonspell, Saturnian Mist is true dark worship to the core, delivering very emotional music on Gnostikoi Ha-Shaitan with booming powerful production and unusual vocal approach. This record definitely has surprise potential written all over it.