Gotos-Antichristus

Mountain King is sure an interesting project....Their debut Gotos Antichristus was banned in several parts of Europe because of the founder's Luciferian roots. If you read some interviews, this guy is actually the head of some cult that really does have Satanic ideologies. Given that and the fact that this album was banned in parts of Europe, it begs the question: how crazy is Gotos Antichristus? Is this one of those albums you buy solely for the cult behind it? Well, it's not some sick, depraved album that causes anyone to burn churches or kill random people, but it IS an awesome metal release with incredible songwriting, atmosphere, and musicianship.

Anyone who has heard Countess's Ad Maiorem Sathanae Gloriam and any Destroyer 666 release, Gotos Antichristus is kind of a mix between those two entities. I'd say it's a 75:25 ratio. Most of the songs on Gotos Antichristus have that similar atmosphere to said Countess album. That atmosphere best reminds me of the original Doom games, that is, trapped in a dungeon-like place, filled with demons and fire. The overall feel is ritualistic and mysterious. Overall the atmosphere is quite 'evil'. No joke - you won't get any cheesy, bullshit ideas like "hay guys we worship satan he rulez jesus droolz!!! 666!". Also, all three bands have an immense influence from heavy metal. Most of the lead guitar riffs are shown off to high skills. The riffs in Gotos Antichristus are melodic, technical, and hell-inspired (interpret that how you will).

While that evil atmosphere and intricate riffs make a strong case for the quality of this album, the overall richness and depths of the songs are the real driving force. The performance of the band members seems very articulate and precise. There are a number of nuances to enhance the overall atmosphere. The ritual-like chanting in "Rite of Ragnarok" does in no way sound gimmicky, but instead fitting. The accoustic introduction in the title track and how it transforms into something filled with deepening, ominous keyboards was perfectly delivered. And of course, before things might get stale or boring, there's also a lively guitar solo that complements the rest of the music.

Sometimes the vocalist is a bit unfitting. Most of the time his voice is fine and appropriate with the otherwise not-so thick production, but in other situations, his really high pitched growls seem a bit "off." You learn to get used to them, like most things in metal, but this triviality sometimes makes Gotos Antichristus a bit less enjoyable sometimes. This is essentially why I never got into bands like Mercyful Fate, but I'm sure other people will disagree.

If you're looking for a well-produced black metal album with a solemn undertone of orthodox Satanism (if such an idea would even exist) and plenty of awesme guitar riffs, Gotos Antichristus may be the album to satisfy that craving. it's a nice change of pace from the usual Dark Funeral, Mayhem, Watain kind clones. At the very least, the general ideas presented in this album make it pretty unique in contemporary black metal scenes.