Metal , especially Extreme Metal has mined the caverns of folklore for decades. Whether it be Norse or Pagan , Hopkins or Crowley there is plenty in history to provide a muse for musicians with a penchant for darkness and daring do.  Belgium’s Rituals of the Dead Hand have written a concept album of Blackened Doom Death based on the story of the Bokknerijders or “Buckriders”. These were demons that were believed to ride through the sky on the back of flying goats given to them by Satan. Pretty gnarly already huh? On top of that a bunch of criminals cashed in on the superstition and the religious folk of Belgium and the Netherlands in the 18th Century and went about ransacking peaceful villagers pretending to be Buckriders until they were caught, tortured and put to death.

OK I see why these guys chose this story.

Rituals of the Dead Hand was put together by members of Hemelbestormer a Belgian post rock band and this debut is a time machine to a dark and oppressive time in the lowlands.

Four epic tracks ranging from 9 to 12 minutes with a 1 minute cinematic interlude to allow you to get another beer or have a toilet break, this is an album not a collection of MP3s.

Opener Bonderkuil has the Blackened groove of Nocturno Culto in his Sarke incarnation and sets the scene for the plunderers deeds afoot.  Furious black metal guitars are pummelled by doomy bass and drums. The doom is even more evident in “Sworn” early Paradise Lost feels alongside screams of villagers this song exudes malevolence. Like the faux demons it depicts this track stalks confidently and methodically stabbing at victims with blunt downturned riffs.

“They Rode by Night” is a frantic cross country escape via flying goat. A rampant black metal rager with deep throated vocals and pounding drums. Pure second wave BM blasts and razor guitars urge the beasts on as the vocals become more desperate before the band kick back into a doomy groove to put pursuing puritans off the scent.

At 11 minutes “The Scourge” which caps Blood Oath builds from death doom to epic Black metal but takes a little too long to do so. I was starting to nod off when the sweet melody dropped in around 8 minutes in and prodded me gently. Swooping post rock / shoe gaze breathes some new life into the track and helps take it home.

This duo have created an interesting album that any fan of things dark, slow and groovy – with a side of metal claw – will lap up like liquid onyx.  “They Rode by Night” is the stand out here and really showcases what these guys can do when they let go of the reins.

(7/10 Matt Mason) 

https://www.facebook.com/ritualsofthedeadhand

https://dunkelheitprod.bandcamp.com/album/blood-oath