WhiskeyRitualThis is more like it. Been listening to a lot of technical death metal for the boss lately and, well, I’m all tech’d out. Much as I appreciate the awesome musicianship of some of these bands they can sometimes lack a bit of groove and er….’fun’.

So, as soon as I pressed play on this, the third album from Italian black & roll rockers ‘Whiskey Ritual’, a big fuck off grin all over my ugly weathered mug.

A bit of research on the band revealed that their main interests are, in no particular order, ‘Drugs, whores, Satan & drunkeness’…well you gotta have a hobby haven’t you?

Musically this is a heady low-fi mix of Venom, Motorhead, early Bathory and later (and best in my opinion) Darkthrone. Basically Satan’s house band strung out on cheap vodka, Special Brew, whiz and some of Columbia’s finest. This will have you stamping your cloven hooves and banging your horned skull in time with the D-Beats while snorting coke from a nun’s cleavage…. Or maybe that’s just me.

Songs like ‘Blow With The Devil’ echo Carpathian Forest with their catchy black metal riffing and tortured howling from vocalist Dorian Bones. ‘Too Drunk For Love’, ‘Speed and Chicks’ and ‘A.B.I.T.C.H’ come across almost like a black metal Macc Lads (Christ what an image!)  but ‘Satanic Kommando’ and ‘Nekro Street Gang’ bring back the vile crusty riffage and cocky swagger. Almost like an evil version of The Hellacopters in places – this album is a total banger and will be on repeat for ages in Evel Mansions.

This record should appeal to anyone who likes groove sodden, good time nasty rock & roll. Whether you’re a die-hard Motorhead fanatic or a greasy Nekrofilth nut (I’m both) this will tick all your boxes.

(9/10 Mark Eve)

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