(Spinefarm) Total Time: 139:58
This is my sixth review for a REVEREND BIZARRE release, so by know those who follow my reviews know very well how much I admire and appreciate this band. In fact, it is one of the 3 or 4 post-2000 (release-wise) authentic doom metal bands that, in my opinion, have the potential to be mentioned in the future alongside such greats of the genre as CANDLEMASS, SAINT VITUS, SOLITUDE AETURNUS, PENTAGRAM, TROUBLE, etc.
This release is further proof of the above bold statement. But, let me first explain what this release actually is. It is a double CD release; the first CD is a remastered re-release of the band’s 2002 debut “In the Rectory of the Bizarre Reverend”, while the second CD is titled “Return to the Rectory” an EP (well at 65:50 + a bonus video it can hardly be called an EP, but anyway) of unreleased material. Actually, the songs included in “Return to the Rectory” were supposed to constitute the previously scheduled “Reverend Bizarre Blesses you With Fire” EP but, to their credit, the band decided to include it as a bonus CD with the re-release of their debut by Spinefarm.
This review will only focus on “Return to the Rectory”, since my review of the band’s absolutely awesome debut can be found in the review database of Metal Invader. The Finnish trio, not surprisingly, continues to fulfil the trust and vindicate those of us who believed in them since their debut. From the first drum poundings of the “March of the War Elephants” intro, where you actually also feel the drums in you bowels rather than just listen to them with your ears, to the end there are no weak moments, and the band lives up to our high expectations (by the way, for those that don’t already know it, let me inform you that “war elephants” is a slang expression for fat goth chicks!). So with the intro setting the right mood, “The Festival” follows, one of the most emotionally fragile melancholic songs that RB have written, starting mellow and building up to a doom fest. The impressive ability of bassist/vocalist of getting very much into the role he impersonates and, as a result, come up with outstanding theatrical performances is again highlighted in this song. “Goddess of Doom” that follows is a tribute to actress Christina Ricci, with whom Albert is obsessed. Actually, this song can be divided in two parts, the first being a homage to Christina Ricci while the second a homage to all the greats of the Doom Metal genre (i.e. the Gods of Doom), as many of its verses constitute of honorary mention of almost all the sacred behemoths of the genre.
But let me not start babbling again, as I usually do when I review a REVEREND BIZARRE release. The essence is that the key elements that made us love this band from the start are all there in the 7 tracks of this release, and I particularly refer to the EXTREME HEAVINESS, PURITY, TALENT, INSPIRATION, PERSONALITY. All these are present in tracks like “Aleister” and it’s magnificent riff, the eerie and threatening “For You Who Walk in the Land of Shadows”, the crushing “Dark Sorceress” and the galloping closer, which is cleverly titled “Wrath of the War Elephants”. What more can a doom metal fan ask for? As an extra bonus, a video for the “Doom Over the World” anthem is included (the song was originally released in the “Doom or be Doomed” compilation and later included in the PsycheDOOMelic re-issue of the “Slice of Doom” demo).
Therefore, towards the end of 2004 another really great doom metal release is here; consider it as a Xmas present by RB. Plus, it is an excellent opportunity for those of you who do not own the band’s debut to buy both that one and the bonus EP for the price of a single disc. For those of you that already own the debut, well you get over an hour of new awesome material by RB, plus a bonus copy of the debut with superior sound quality. So it is really a win-win situation. It goes without saying that to this reviewer this release is an essential buy for all traditional doomsters worldwide, and all in all one of the year’s top releases.
