Cuba, the land of classy cigars and rum. But also metal music, even though in way smaller quantities. Bands such as Abaddon, Cronos, and... Black Winged Goat Messiah! It's pretty darn obvious, that this one man project does some black metal, huh?! His nick here is Nunslayer, and he has been around since early noughties, in many bands and projects (he still has 3 other black metal ones going on).

Anyway, 'Satanic Morbid Lust' is the BWGM debut. Nunslayer might have done a demo or something, but Polish label Mara Productions somehow got its claws into BWGM and did put this album out in three different CD editions (digipak, jewelcase and slipcase). At least the digipak looks rather nifty; like an old Satanic book kind of a thing. And the production is also good. It's quite bass-heavy, but of course with some shrill guitars, and the mix is very nicely balanced. Everything was performed by Nunslayer himself, and there's really no complaining his skills (or lack of them) in any way. But it is time to dive into the abyssic bowels of Cuban black metal, à la Black Winged Goat Messiah.

Everything is very or quite simplistic. Hard-hitting simplistic riffing (or strumming), punchy organic-sounding drums, belting bass guitar with some growled vocals sometimes doubled for demonic effect, are the building blocks of BWGM. The atmospheres vary from blasting attack to mid-paced threshing, and even slower, pretty damn doomy vibes (the title track). From mauling to ominous, never anything pretty, like fancy harmonic guitars or clean vocals for example. This is pure black metallic filth, with those few elements happening or then not, per a song. Insane, random-esque sounding guitar solo outbursts are included for more meat. In all, BWGM has its version of meat-and-potatoes black metal, and nothing else. Gladly it's more often driving and into the point than not; you can hear the black heart pumping, even though not the blackest ever...

The structure of this +36-minute album isn't monolithic, as there's an intro and outro (both taken from Acheron's 'Rites of the Black Mass' album!), plus two cover songs. So, this is basically 6 own songs with some extras thrown in. That's the way BWGM decided to present itself to the world. Von and Beherit covers do not tar BWGM's reputation, I believe. 'Black Arts' include some well done atmospherics, albeit being totally different as the original's.

No-thrills black metal votaries might find something here, but nobody else should bother. Simple as that.

Rating: 6 (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
10/13/2022 19:51