(Spikefarm) Total Time: 74:02
REVEREND BIZARRE seem to be very prolific and this is something that gives me great joy. A year after their debut “In the Rectory of…” and only a couple of months after the release of the “Blood on Satan’s Claw” limited edition split 7” (with RITUAL STEEL) they are back with their new EP titled “Harbinger of Metal”. Yes, you read correctly, although the release is 74 minutes long REVEREND BIZARRE insist on calling it an EP. Surprised? Why? After all, they are not a usual band, why should they conform to usual rules? So, EP it is! Well, if we had an excuse to be surprised when “In the Rectory of…” first came out, we certainly do not have one now as we know the great capabilities of the Finnish trio. In terms of the band’s sound “Harbinger of Metal” does not deviate a lot from their debut. That is, they still play ultra slow but pure and traditional doom. Those not familiar with the band imagine something like CATHEDRAL of the “Forest of Equilibrium” period but with clean vocals, and consequently imagine something deeply influenced by the SAINT VITUS school of doom metal. And if the sound has not changed significantly, the same cannot be said for the structure of the album (oh, I forgot, it’s an EP). Contrary to their debut, in “Harbinger of Metal” next to the “proper” songs you’ll also find 3-minute instrumentals or intros with narration, as in the case of “The Ambassador”, which help in creating the right mood and generating the desired atmosphere. The main compositions are as we expected and wanted them to be from REVEREND BIZARRE. Extremely long and ultra heavy songs, torturing slow riffage, guitars as downtuned as it gets, and deep and slow pounding drums accompanied by a wall of bass. Add to these the mournful lyrics, the desperate woeful vocals of Magister Albert (who’s singing style in “Strange Horizon” reminds that of a Gregorian monk) and you get an idea. No you don’t! You have to listen to the actual songs in order to feel their power, be allured by the music, experience the heaviness, and ultimately understand this album. Despite its very long duration, “Harbinger of Metal” keeps the listener’s interest at peak levels throughout, and will often make you wonder how something so pure and seemingly simple can be so enchanting. Well, this is exactly were the talent of REVEREND BIZARRE lies, in their ability to make you listen to a 18-minute song like “Wandering Jew” (it refers to Jesus) without making you feel tired or bored, but instead making you wanting to listen to it repeatedly and completely concentrated. As you have already guessed I consider the new offering of the REVEREND as an outstanding release. A special mention must be made to the excellent 5-minute drum solo of Mr. Earl of Void, which is embedded in the appropriately titled 20-minute epic “From the Void”. Plus, the “clean” and “deep” production is unbelievably good for such a release and it fits perfectly to the band’s sound. The album closes with “Dunkelheit”, which is a BURZUM cover. Although I admit I despise Varg Vikernes and all that he represents and despite the fact that I was initially biased against the band’s choice to cover a BURZUM song, I have to admit that the resulting song is awesome. Yet I cannot compare it with the original as I haven’t heard it. When “In the Rectory…” first came out I wrote that REVEREND BIZARRE is one of the most talented and promising bands in the old-fashioned traditional doom metal genre and that these (then) new-comers have a lot to offer. Today, I stand by it and I even amplify my statement. “Harbringer of Metal” is a necessity for all doomsters. REVEREND BIZARRE can insist as much as they want to about this being an EP; I am going to mark it as a proper album anyway.
