Search - Belphegor :: Goatreich Fleshcult

Supreme death/black metal art!!!

Armando L. Martinez III | 05/09/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Belphgor's 5th studio opus shows these Austrians are still kicking ass. Blazing speed, great guitar/drum work with their death/black hybrid style, and Helmuth's vocals still sound down-right unholy. If you haven't picked this up yet, then what the hell are you waiting for?"

Brutal black/death metal that steals Marduk's throne.

Ben Stubbs | Australia | 05/21/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I recall the first time I heard Belphegor back in the year 2000. I had assumed from the cover imagery of "Necrodaemon Terrorsathan" that these Austrians would be playing raw black metal in the ilk of fellow countrymen Abigor. So it was a huge surprise to be belted around the head for the next 35 minutes with some ferocious death metal of a pretty high standard.



There's definitely something very black going on within Belphegor's music, especially the Marduk-like riffs throughout, but the sound and in particular the drumming is very death metal. These guys love their blast-beats and are not afraid to hammer you with them continuously to get their point home.



And so I pop their latest CD in, hoping for an entertaining but reasonably forgettable experience. A few listens later and I've decided that "Goatreich - Fleshcult" is far from forgettable and in fact, is a fantastically brutal album that will please hordes of black and death fans around the globe. Everything is as it always has been for Belphegor, it's just that they have created a massive sound for this release that really brings their music to life. There is also a variety in speed now that differentiates the tracks more than on previous albums. For example, "Fornicationium et Immundus Diabolus" is the most ferocious (and best) track on the album and is immediately followed by "Sepulture of Hypocrisy", which is much slower, yet no less powerful. It's this great sound and track identity that makes this Belphegor's best album, as well as a bloody good album in general. I also enjoy the atmosphere of this release immensely. It is a truly dark and evil album, mostly thanks to some very brutal vocals along with well-instigated samples, but it doesn't take itself too seriously (sampled sheep?).



I really do feel that Belphegor are beating Marduk at their own game here. With the Swedes' last few albums not really being up to the high standard they set in the 90s, it was only a matter of time before someone threatened their throne and Belphegor have stepped up to the plate. Maybe Dark Funeral will raise the bar again on their next album, but for the time being, if you like your metal extreme, then allow "Goatreich - Fleshcult" to violate you. You won't regret it!

"

Snarling death-thrash from Austria

Bacteria13 | North Vancouver, BC Canada | 07/11/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Austria's Belphegor are beginning to make a name for themselves outside their native country, and bully for them. I've been singing their evil praises to any and all who'll listen, and with good reason. Belphegor are the perfect blend of Black/Death Metal, with a distinctive sound that bizarrely harks back to early 80's European thrash. If Hellhammer had stuck it out chances are they would have probably mutated into Belphegor. This is album number 6 (including an (un)live long play), hot on the hooves of 2003's excellent Lucifer Incestus, of which was banned in Germany. Goatriech is brimming with blistering death thrash and horrid vocals of the Linda Blair variety. Not as fast as Marduk, nor as heavy as Suffocation, nevertheless Belphegor can crank 'em with the best of them - 'Bleeding Salvation', 'Fornicationium Et Immundus Diabolus' or the grindingly slow Morbid Angel-ish 'Sepulture of Hypocrisy', GF is a worthy addition to any extreme music fan's collection."