Music: Doom Metal
Country: Finland
Website: www.reverend.shows.it
Cool Songs: Burn in Hell, Cirith Ungol, In the Hour of Death
In the Rectory of the Bizarre Reverend was originally released in 2002 via Sinister Figure/Low Frequency Records. Low Frequency re-released the album the following year. Then Finlands biggest record label, Spikefarm re-released the album, yet again, in 2004 with a bonus CD called Return to the Rectory. The version Im reviewing is the Spikefarm re-release including the Return to the Rectory bonus disc.
In the Rectory is a modern doom metal classic and possibly one of the greatest doom albums of the new millennium. It has all the traits needed to make a classic doom album: epic song structures, catchy, crunchy riffs that will shake your walls and your balls, a persistent dark aura, and exceptionally strong vocals.
The vocals are the first aspect of the album that stood out upon the first listen. Albert Witchfinder (yes, there is an obvious nod to WITCHFINDER GENERAL), has unmistakable clean vocals that portray characteristics of some of metals legendary singers. Imagine the pain-soaked wailing of MY DYING BRIDEs Aaron mixed with the robust toughness of Glen Danzig then youll get the just of Witchfinders vocal style. Cirith Ungol, and the unofficial title track In the Rectory show Witchfinder howling ominous stories of desolate, black landscapes and mankinds impending doom.
The evil subject matters are perfect for the eccentric front man to don a sinister, evil tone to his vocals (the goat-worshipping painting by Goya that adorns the albums cover is a sign that this band is into the occult). On Doomsower he throws a bit of death metal growling into the mix.
Covering most angles of darkness on In the Rectory , In the Hour of Death is a lovelorn rhapsody showing the narrator inching ever closer to his self-inflicted death. This tune weights every bit as heavy in melancholia as any MY DYING BRIDE song, and Witchfinders vocals are a mirror reflection of the songs sullen tone.
The crawling, crushing, bar chord ringing riffs characteristic of doom metal arguably make for the best music to represent darkness and despondency. The music created on In the Rectory could be used as evidence to support this argument. Peter Vicars guitar playing either consists of starting with low notes that hang in the air before making a high end crescendo or high end rhythms that wind downwards like the descent into catatonia. The guitars consist of layers of distortion that envelop the airwaves, which will have the listener feeling like he is drowning in quick sand. Every track is filled with great riffs, so it is difficult to point out some of the better riffs, but Sodoma Sunrise and Burn in Hell contain some of the best doom rhythms this doom metal fanatic has ever heard!
I guess Spikefarm felt that over sixty minutes of timeless doom wasnt enough, so they added another disc of over an hour of excellent doom. Titled Return to the Rectory, the second disc is not nearly as memorable, although by no means a bad album. Hey, this is a bonus disc, right? It can only enhance the album. Some of the highlights include the two part bass-heavy juggernaut The March of the War Elephants and The Wrath of the War Elephants. The March is like an ancient village hearing the thundering of elephant hooves in the distance. The bass and drums pounding echo hits like the behemoth stride of a walking elephant, giving the music a distant quality. Without many lyrics, the listener is left to sounds, like the villager hearing the stride of the army of elephants.
The Wrath is ushered in with a galloping, Steve Harris type bass line and Sabbath-during-its-faster-moments riffing. A faster pace and more detailed lyrics outline the havoc ensued by the army of elephants. The crawling, BLACK SABBATH rhythms in homage of magic practitioner, Aleister Crowley on Aleister and the earthy, pagan acoustics on The Festival are also of note. Dark Sorcceress (Autumn Siege) shows the bands ability to cover bands outside of their genre by covering the black/doom metal band BARATHRUM (also see the Harbinger of Metal release for a BURZUM cover).
Over the last few years, Finland seems to be competing with Sweden for being the world capital of metal. Although more famous for its goth and melodic death scene, Finland also contains some the worlds best doom metal with SWALLOW THE SUN and SHAPE OF DESPAIR. Having formed in 1995, REVEREND BIZARRE is undoubtedly the bringer of doom to this frost-bitten, northern country. With Return to the Rectory of the Bizarre Reverend, this trio proves its not only the first, its also the best!
note: 10/10
Tracklist
1. Burn in Hell!
2. In the Rectory
3. The Hour of Death
4. Sodoma Sunrise
5. Doomsower
6. Cirith Ungol
Total playing time 01:14:06
Return to the Rectory
1. The March of the War Elephants
2. The Festival
3. The Goddess of Doom
4. Aleister
5. For You Who Walk in the Land of the Shadow
6. Dark Sorceress (Autumn Siege) (Barathrum cover)
7. The Wrath of the War Elephants
Total playing time 01:05:49
Line-up
Sir Albert Witchfinder – Bass, Vocals
Father Peter Vicar – Guitars
Monsieur Earl of Void – Drums, Additional Guitars
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