Militant Liturgy is a sub-label of Gates Of Hypnos, also based on different kinds of Electronic Music (from Dark Ambient over Ambient Noise Wall and Death Industrial to Harsh Noise), yet with a Christian character. Focusing on a connection with Higher Power, rather than blindly following any monotheistic deity, this label expanded into an aural institute of sonic creativity combined with philosophical, theological, introspective and faithful content.
The label’s owner, Przemysław, runs tens of own music(k)al projects as well; the best known might be Sado Rituals for sure. Hailing Her Heavens too is an outfit by this devoted, ‘new-born’ human from Polish soil, as productive and creative, as sympathetic. You’re welcome…
Which easily brings me to this: a new Hailing Her Heavens recording via Militant Liturgy, called Oratio Ad Sanctum Michael, which is Latin for ‘prayer to Saint Michael’. It was this angelic warrior / archangel who defeated the Fallen Angel, the Dragon-Devil, also known from the ‘quis ut deus’ quote to confront blasphemy (or haughtiness / arrogance / disrespect, as a metaphysical answer; quite present-day, I am afraid). The cover artwork, by the way, is based on a work by Dutch sculptor Hubert Gerhard, called ‘Saint Michael Archangelus Defeating Satan’ (1588). It’s all related, everything makes sense…
This mesmerizing recording was created over a week (7th - 13th June 2026), and this ‘in assistance of exorcists’. These exorcists’ ‘contribution’ returns within the sonic outcome (I’ll repeat it once more immediately in its aural context). Oratio Ad Sanctum Michael clocks 44:48 minutes, being a one-track encounter that absolutely does need the invocating of the archangel for perfect listening experience. It starts with a distorted vocal recording, definitely taken from some exorcising preparation. Soon the whole evolves into a claustrophobic, paralytic expression of grim, demonic, blackened Death Industrial. Several layers of noise – rumbling drones, reverberating whirs and compulsive pulsations – get canalized into a morbid, ominous format. The addition of field-recorded samples, i.e. the injection of vocal sampling, taken from exorcise sessions, fortifies the heinous atmosphere. The utmost bleak-blackened production aggravates the deep-abhorrent ambience. Asphyxiating magnificence…
Oh yes, a warning for spiritual protection (a communication kindly provided by the artist behind this album): ‘listening to this without permission from your Archbishop or Patriarch and supervision of an experienced exorcist is absolutely forbidden’. I did not ask permission, so I guess I’m doomed. …but I already knew that, so I will listen to this magnificent piece of Aural Art once more, without asking license or permit…
https://militantliturgy.bandcamp.com/album/oratio-ad-sanctum-michael
https://sadorituals.bandcamp.com/album/oratio-ad-sanctum-michael
https://www.concreteweb.be/reviews/various-artists-join-warfare
https://www.concreteweb.be/reviews/sado-rituals-1