Band: Akercocke
Genre: Avantgarde Black Metal
Discography: "Rape of the Bastard Nazarene" (2000), "The Goat of Mendes" (2000), "Choronzon" (2003), "Words That Go Unspoken, Deeds That Go Undone" (2005), "Antichrist" (2007)
When you have Satan worshipers playing black metal, the picture you immediately get in your head is a dude with painted face, long black hair, leather pants, jacket and spikes even in his ass. That's why the presentation of the guys of the black metal act Akercocke is so unexpected. They decided to wear complete suits (with tie and shit) ruling out all the cliché. Seriously, Jason Mendonca looks like a fucking XVIII century's professor instead of an extreme vocalist. Reading the bands biography you learn that indeed all the bands members are practicing satanists since teenagers, and they make that point very clear through their music.
The band is from England and the music they compose is not of the typical black metal variety (you know, with the shitty production and the horrible distorted guitars) neither of the symphonic type. Their black metal can be described as unbelievably obscure, variably paced and evil. It is not pure black metal though, as you can hear a lot of thrash and death metal riffs as well as clear chants of invocation. The vocals are a perfect example of guttural voice and it is often unintelligible (especially if you don't have the lyrics).
Akercocke´s first album "Rape of the Bastard Nazarene" is the most primitive and raw. It is almost a damn cult to summon the Prince of the Earth, and not a very good listen at all. But with the great "Goat of Mendes" they did manage to pull off some ground-breaking music and construct a solid fan base. All the following albums are top-notch and you can hear more or less chants, clear vocals and dark interludes in each one as evolution and musical development dictates.
The lyrics are one-dimensional and they are centered in summoning and worshiping the Fallen Angel, introducing a lot of the band member's philosophy towards life and beyond.
Good, self-taught musicians doing occult music in the name of Satan. Damn good metal at the end and that is all that matters. Highly recommended!
Download Akercocke´s discography except "Antichrist" here
Download "Antichrist" here
Song: "A Skin For Dancing In" from "The Goat Of Mendes"
Sister Cunegonde
Novitiate veiled in black
Immaculate
Pure
Devout
Hear the melody of the night
feel the winter through your robe
Regain custody of dead senses
and escape into the woods
escape into the woods
The intimacy of the darkness
reveals the spirits strength
reveals the twisted horns of the lord
Demogorgon, the eldritch goat
[Sister Cunegonde:]
"Grant me a skin for dancing in
Grant me a skin for dancing in
dark master"
Proceed the path of Agarthi, alone
Recite enochian
canto, sister
[Sister Cunegonde:]
"Grant me a skin for dancing in
dark master"
and receive unholy jism
Goat of mendes Ahriman
carnal inspirer and lord
Infernal prophet
The scent of her hymen
potent and pure presents
temptation beyond heaven
and into Hell
Shemhamforash
The visible melts into the unseen
The abyss below Malkuth
Embrace vital existence
and the dark ones of the pit
Beneath the beast the naked soul
the visible melts into the unseen
between her thighs
such sweet delights
Rejoice in the fleshly life
sweet sister in darkness
Rejoice in the fleshly life
[solo's Paul Schanlan & Jason Mendonca]
Shemhamforash
Satan
