ETHEREAL PANDEMONIUM

Well now, another pocket-sized "pandemonium" — or, to put it plainly, a "devilish inferno." The question naturally arises: what sets this "ethereal hell" apart from the myriad other models of the underworld? Well, its origin, for starters — the Eastern European scene (and the Czech one in particular) has always delighted us with quality underground projects. Then there's the industrial, ABORYM-esque innovation — also an infrequent guest in the headphones of the long-haired half of the thinking population. Intertwining with lyrics in Czech, the musical treats occasionally evoke later CRADLE OF FILTH, early EVOL, and at times the doom-laden heaviness of CREMATORY. The only problem is the excessive indulgence in gothic tranquilizers toward the middle of the disc, which considerably tarnishes the overall impression: when synthesizer pomposity charges at the guitar parts like a bloated herd, when the shorn vocalist's wails (not even wearing corpse paint — what an outrage!) give way to sepulchral ventriloquism a la a flirtatious Dani Filth, and a choir of succubi trills away in the background (three female vocalists, no less!), one's hand instinctively reaches for the coveted "stop" button... But no — we consume this gothic-black product to the bitter end, wash it down with a homemade music video for the track "Wisdom," and only then are we ready to deliver the final diagnosis. The subject, ETHEREAL PANDEMONIUM, is unquestionably suffering from the first stage of black metal vampirism. For now, released on recognizance — but if the condition progresses, we'll have to escort the poor souls to the "padded" room next door to AGATHODAIMON.