Album Review: Unholy Vampyric Slaughter Sect - The World Trapped In Vampyric Sway (Darker and Darker)
Reviewed by Paul Hutchings
Listening to the unholy belch that erupted from the speakers as the third album from Massachusetts outfit Unholy Vampyric Slaughter Sect made its first play, thoughts drifted to the whole concept of vampires. Creatures from folklore that exist by feeding on the blood of the living. History portrays them through the centuries, with credence given to them in the Balkans and Eastern Europe. The evolution of the vampire as sophisticated and charismatic happened in 1819 with John Polidori’s modern fiction ‘The Vampyre’, before Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel ‘Dracula took’ the podium as the definitive vampire novel. The vampire remains a constant staple of the horror genre.
The follow up to 2018’s ‘Power of Ordained Light’, ‘The World Trapped in Vampyric Sway’ is as savage and ferocious as one would expect. Slabs of crushing black metal interspersed with elements of death, doom, and even blackened thrash. It’s all the work of solo artist Kane, who contributes everything to the album. Whilst vampyric satanism is not my strongest suit, there are aspects of this album I can appreciate. For example, the sheer intensity that is crammed into the five song, 24-minute release. ‘Forced Genuflection on Adoring Gored Knees’ veers from blistering fierce black metal, a snarling horrible roar before traversing into a thick riffed chug, the terrifying drawl cutting through the wall of riffing. The imagery created by the likes of ‘Pummelled Flesh in the Mouth of the Virgin’ haunting and the sheer blunt force trauma forced by the opening of the finale, ‘And I Shall Come To Thee As An Iron Wolf’, before it segues into an ethereal mid-section and crushing doom drenched conclusion.
Interspersed with clips of religious services and news broadcasts, there is an eerie unease hovering throughout the release. That’s no doubt part of the overall approach and intention. Maybe it’s best to leave this review with words from the man.
“Ave Vampyras. All must die. Praise Hell in terror’s name. A congregation of nothing awaits those who seek the deceiver. Be not the wolf nor the sheep, but the ceremonial blade that slew them both. Innocent does not exist in enemies or uselessness born of nothing before my eyes veins excised blood into cum viewed and died pummelled flesh”.
The World Trapped In Vampyric Sway (Darker and Darker) is released by Crown and Throne Ltd and is available now on streaming sites and via mail order.
