It's risky having the audacity to title an album Power ~ Purity ~ Perfection 999. But this Colorado-based Black Metal band succeeds at delivering all three and some serious numerology. Luciferian stalwarts Satan Host pull off power, purity and perfection with terrifying ease and release the best disc of their career.
Last year's Great American Scapegoat 666 was an impressive feat. The band successfully fused Black, Death and Traditional Metal together into an exhaustive elixir of molten, satanic metal hymns. Power ~ Purity ~ Perfection 999 not only continues this formula, but adds heaps of melodies, moody moments, searing solos, clean picking and challenging epics. Opening with "Sitra Arha (Power 9)", it's clear this band has some serious chops. Guitarist Patrick Evil really lets it rip with blazing leads and deafening riffs. Not solely focusing on breaking the speed limit here, the song teeters nicely between grinding grooves and burning blasts.
The band really turns heads with the next track, "Dark Priest (Lord Arhiman)." Starting off slow and moody with heaps of atmosphere, the track finds the band exploring new melodic territory. The song soon swells into a fierce assault of Black Metal and impressive tempo changes, Doom-drenched riffs and galloping grooves. "Beur" is a beautiful acoustic instrumental that segues nicely into one of the best tracks on the disc, "333 (Purity 9)." Starting with mesmerizing cleaning picking and classy melodies, the song builds nicely into an epic, melancholic monster. "333" is over 7-minutes of some of the best, most complex metal Satan's Host has ever recorded.
"End All, Be All 2012" is not only the lyrical oddball of the disc, it is also the closest the band gets to pure Death Metal with combative beats and bellicose riffs. “9 Lords, 9 Keys" returns the album back to the more epic and melodic material. Patrick Evil keeps up the impressive, creative riffs and moments while vocalist L.C.F. Elixir belts out impressively crystal clear roars. The track is 8-minutes of blackened bliss making for one truly epic track. "Paimon" is another acoustic interlude while the beginning of "Luciferian Spirit (Perfection 9)" channels Dissection. Starting with cleaning picking and a dense dose of atmosphere, most of track relies on much slower riffing and tempos. The song's midsection features impressive guitar hysterics, righteous riffs and melodies and some impressive rhythms from drummer Evil Little Hobbit. "Satanic Magick" continues the craftsmanship with crushing riffs and nice shredding while "Xem Dietus 999" contains skull-liquefying riffs and skin-pealing riffs, closing the album with one massive wallop.
Power ~ Purity ~ Perfection is excellent. The band expertly infuses elements of Death, Doom and Traditional Metal in to their wicked Black Metal offerings. The band takes a risk with most of the songs going past the 6-minute mark. Even given the length of the songs, there isn't a boring or excessive spot on the disc. Lyrically, some may find the themes difficult to digest, cartoonish or unattractive and may unfortunately turn off some folks. The band is serious and has no problems pushing their beliefs to the forefront. Those worried about their souls have been warned and it is their loss because the music contained on this disc is absolutely some of the best Blackened Metal to ever come from the United States. Power ~ Purity ~ Perfection 999 is a flawless masterpiece that is both challenging and classy. Guitarist Patrick Evil should feel satisfied as he and his band crafted something truly memorable. This album is career defining and has the ability to lift the group from the depths of the Metal's underground. Power ~ Purity ~ Perfection 999 lives up to its name and should be destined for several top 10 of 2009 lists. Highly recommended.
-Rottenbucher
Rating: 5/5
Link