Hailing from Colorado, SATAN'S HOST has spent over 20 years in the depths of the underground. Line-up changes, a band member's murder and a hefty hiatus all took their toll, but a deal with Moribund Records has fortified the band tremendously. Two of SATAN'S HOST's most recent albums were re-released last year. The bludgeoning "Burning the Born Again" and the epic "Satanic Grimore: A Greater Black Magic" could finally be reached by metal fans the world over. Each of these releases was a hint of what was looming on the horizon.
"Great American Scapegoat 666" seems to be an amalgamation of the band's best moments on their two previous albums coupled with better production and more passion. The music is just as brutal, grim, epic and melodic as the past releases but the formula has been jolted for the better. Guitarist Patrick Evil is now injecting a heavy dose of Doom into the band's music and it works marvelously; the masterful infusion of Doom-drenched riffs gives the songs a much more mounting and epic feel.
Starting out with the clean picking intro of "Ave Lucifer," SATAN'S HOST quickly demonstrate that they are not the typical blast-friendly Black Metal band. Using a swelling of melody and solos the song eventually surges into a powerful sonic attack with tremendous drumming from Pete 3 Wicked and the impeccable roar of vocalist L.C.F. Eli Elixir. And the album really doesn't sag or falter from this point forward; from the melodic and Doom-drenched "Dragons - Darkness" to the bellicose groove of the title track, SATAN'S HOST is clearly churning out top shelf, eclectic Black Metal by utilizing elements Death, Thrash and even Doom. These songs have a serious amount of depth and they add to SATAN'S HOST's multi-genre accessibility.
The album's highest of high points are "Azrael: Death Winged Angel" and "Throne of Baphomet." Each song starts softly with clean picking but quickly move into epic masterpieces with their ever-changed tempos, brilliantly executed blasts and undulant riffs. As if to make things better and more unique, both songs are also augmented with fantastic bits of NWOBHM-style melodic hooks and shredding solos.
The only negatives are the few interludes and the rather bombastic and clichéd Death Metal attack of "Hail Satan." Even so, this album is an amazing piece of craftsmanship from a band that is clearly ready to move beyond the Extreme Metal underground. Simply put, "Great American Scapegoat 666" would have been more aptly titled Great American Black Metal. It's a must for all Black Metal fiends, especially those that adore DISSECTION.
-Don Rottenbucher
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