Inquisition - Ominous Doctrines of the Perpetual Mystical Macrocosm [2010]

Inquisition is one of the bigger names in the black metal scene, revered by black metal fans the world over; and rightly so. They’ve kept going at it with intense, hectic, abrasive black metal… The way it’s supposed to be done. With this album they’ve been able to develop their sound and infuse a more doomy influence into their style.

There’s a whole range of things going on all over the place throughout the record, and the riffs vary greatly. The first song, “Astral Path to Supreme Majesties,” starts the album off with fast, heavy blast beats and the trademark Inquisition riff. Which is a great thing. What’s interesting about this one is that it has an acoustic guitar mixed in with the distorted ones, creating an atmospheric effect; followed by a guitar solo, a rare feat in black metal. After the first song is over you’ll be met by another classic Inquisition riff, subsequently followed by an uproar of chaotic ones. Shortly after, what will soon become one of the most prominent styles in this record ensues; a slow, doomy style.

“Desolate Funeral Chant” is when you’ll really get a picture of the style that Inquisition develops in this record. Slow, mesmerizing, almost spacey riffs that dominate the atmosphere and create a very peculiar but great effect. This song is probably among the highlights of the record, regardless of its slow speed and long length. Although it is such, there are numerous eerie, (pardon the redundancy) doomy riffs that’ll make you nod along to the rhythm. It sort of puts you in a hypnotized state, a trance that you can’t break free from; and you’ll be loving every second of it.

There’s, like I said, a whole range of styles that Inquisition puts into play fantastically. There’s relatively melodic ones spread sporadically, and oftentimes the guitars have whirring things going on, providing a mesh of seemingly disorganized sounds. While they may seem as such, they’re actually very… compact. Organized. They pull it off exceptionally well. Towards the end of “Crepuscular Battle Hymn,” you’ll also hear two quite thrashy riffs (especially considering they’re black metal) and on the drums, the only thrash beat you’ll hear on the entire record. The vocals are the same as on other Inquisition records: a sort of raspy style that sounds like he’s humming. They experimented a bit, albeit not that much, with them. For example, on “Desolate Funeral Chant,” when the vocalist performs chilling, subtle but effective howls. There’s also intermittent use of death metal growls.

"Ominous Doctrines of the Perpetual Mystical Macrocosm" is filled with bleak, somber, chaotic, doomy, (sometimes) thrashy, spacey--you get the point--riffs. Ones that drone on and others that gallop frantically behind the ripping drums. It’s Inquisition for Christ’s sake. If you don’t yet have it, get it now. Highly recommended black metal. A must have for any fan of the genre. Inquisition have done it yet again.
  
"...Black are the heavens of the trinity
Demons of fire I speak to thee
Forces of Satan carry me
Fire winged demon flies away free..."

88/100

-SmithMetal84