Formed in 2003, CAEDES CRUENTA are the foremost torchbearers for the classic Greek black metal sound. For them, the early Hellenic flame of the “Big Three” – Rotting Christ, Varathron, and Necromantia – never died, nor did the contemporaneous flames of early Thou Art Lord and Zemial among others. “Greek black metal” may have changed shapes and styles over the past 30 years, but for the members of CAEDES CRUENTA, the ancient days of the early ‘90s burns stronger than ever.

One need look no further than the band’s long-awaited third album, Of Ritual Necrophagia and Mysterious Ghoul Cults. While the quartet released a 7” in 2017 and, a year later, a split 7” with comrades CULT OF EIBON through HELTER SKELTER – who also reissued their classic second album, ??????? ?????, on cassette and vinyl earlier this year – Of Ritual Necrophagia and Mysterious Ghoul Cults is the first full-length from CAEDES CRUENTA in an all-too-long six years. Suitably, the band go all out here, both topping out at 62 minutes for the most immersive experience yet, but more so in how masterful their songwriting has become. Like their founding forebears, with LP#3 do CAEDES CRUENTA find a truly magickal balance between aggression and atmosphere; to walk among the myriad landscapes of Of Ritual Necrophagia and Mysterious Ghoul Cults is to equally walk within the cemetery at night and deep within a castle’s dungeons, and to be equally emboldened to charge into any battle. Of course, central to their sound is that classic Greek black metal physicality: pulsing and patient but portending ominousness and metallic might, the surging, Alpha sound of ancient brimstone made forever vital and virile. Not for nothing did the band record the whole album live this past summer at the Eleventh Tower Studios in Athens – indeed, a rarity in these days of Pro-Tooled studio-only “bands.” As ever, CAEDES CRUENTA are bass-heavy in their infinitely potent throb and tastefully embellish that sound subtle layers of mystical synth, but also will one find triumphant heavy metal leads and an utterly engaging dual-vocal attack. And while roughly half of Of Ritual Necrophagia and Mysterious Ghoul Cults comprises songs from the band’s recent past, these re-recorded versions are their ultimate expression: fully live, and fully ALIVE with energy and mysticism.

Like its full-length predecessor and the EPs right before and right after, one could be forgiven for thinking CAEDES CRUENTA have transported the listener back in time with Of Ritual Necrophagia and Mysterious Ghoul Cults, so authentic and invigorating is their Hellenic classicism. Thus, with this album do CAEDES CRUENTA rightfully deserve to be mentioned among the Greek gods.