Band: Sacrilegious Impalement
Title: II Exalted Spectres
Label: Hammer Of Hate
Distribution: Hammer Of Hate
Release date: March 2011
Review: CD

Sacrilegious Impalement hail from Finland and were formed in 2005 by Impaler Von Bastard and his Evil Angel / Neutron Hammer-colleague Kaosbringer. The 2006-debut-demo (with session assistance by Exordium-drummer Asassin) drew attention of small French label Blasphemous Underground Productions, and in 2007, the label and the band released a self-called mini-album, recorded and mixed (again, like the demo) by Exordium’s A. Karstila. Somewhat later, same label, same studio, same master (Tore Stjerna), same engineer, with the 7”EP World In Ashes as result (vinyl only). A tour followed, with new drummer Hellwind Inferion (think: Tuonela, Famulus Ab Satanas, Urn, Valonsurma, Uncreation’s Dawn), along with bands as Sargeist, Satanic Warmaster, Ondskapt and Baptism, and then it was time to record and release the debut full length, Cultus Nex (originally 2009, re-issued last year; review posted on November 26th 2010). The result (as you can see at the end of the review): positive!
Some small line-up changes followed, but the basics on II Exalted Spectres are similar: grim and winterly Nordic-sounding Underground Black Metal with the most evil, breath-taking and asphyxiating atmosphere. The performance is pretty ‘technical’ yet unconventionally un-progressive (oink?). Devastating blast-parts interact with moments of relative calm, always with the same overwhelming atmosphere: an obscure and abyssal one.
Superb song writing, unique compositions with lots of interesting elements and a superior performance – and my main negative remark on the debut, namely the (few) predictable parts, is of no importance anymore. No, Sacrilegious Impalement are not the most renewing band, suddenly and out of the black, but the members seem to explore and dominate the primary roots.
Most parts modestly above average, some pieces of superior excellence. Lovely. Sadistic joy… In the vein of the better Northern Atlantic scenes (performance, sound and atmosphere), hurray!

90/100

Ivan Tibos.