Crucifist

Reinventing himself yet again, former S.O.D., Nuclear Assault and Brutal Truth bassist Dan Lilker has wound his way through crossover, hardcore and death metal to spawn latest outfit Crucifist, a dyed-in-the-wool black metal outfit reminiscent of Bathory, Hellhammer and Venom. While the band have been skulking about the gutters of NYC for a few years, Demon Haunted World is actually their inaugural full-length. Still, despite the quartet's intent on delivering straightforward black metal, they have too much talent to stay mired in that cacophonous genre. As the album unfolds it's clear that a plethora of rock, metal and hardcore inspirations have dug their heels into these 11 tracks, which is wonderful. The entire affair comes across more like a hard rock-fuelled collection than the reverb-laden pieces of junk people call black metal nowadays. Vocalist Ron Blackwell could use a few more smokes to truly draw out that possessed wail such music requires but from the grimy tempo of "Putrid Mother Lode," "Skull Smashing Face Ripping Death" and its chugging attitude to a cover of Angel Witch's "Angel Of Death," Demon Haunted World is a lot of fun, and kind of catchy.