Review by Alex on January 13, 2021.

Drooling for more, as though this is the first time ever hearing death/doom metal. This band going by the name Slough of Despair may have read my mind. This is what death/doom really sounds like whenever I hear the term. Riffs with jagged teeth, dragging you slowly on the mildew, cold, hard concrete. Catacombs of Terror is like that horror movie you can't stop going back to regardless of how many times you've seen it. The movie here, the way I perceive it is existence and the unsound elements challenging each breath.

It's hard to believe there was barely any coverage of the album given how excellent the music is as a result of its direct and meticulous crafting. The production is impeccable, and is exploited by outstanding synth and melodic guitar sections as heard on 'Burial of Sanity' and 'Humanity's Crucifixion', yet within the clean sound resids a rather hideous and vile attitude compliments of the nasty rasps of the vocalist who has a somewhat similar style to those heard in Vastum. This ongoing battle between beauty and beast is what makes this album special and keeps you nodding away to a swift descent into slumber.

The guitar work is just fabulous, hence 'Shattered Reality' and 'Cursed Fate' magnify the effect of what Slough of Despair do on Catacombs of Terror. Perhaps my favorite characteristic of the album, but only by a slim margin given all other aspects trail closely behind. The drumming has its moments too given the beefy thump, oftentimes aided by the spacy and eerie guitar work. They sort of broaden the atmosphere especially when the power chords are synchronised with certain snare and cymbal sections.

The song titles give you an idea as to what is being addressed, yet it's the way the band goes about it that gives you the feeling of watching something actively regress into a state of total negativity. It's just incredible this album, and coming from Greece, I'm not surprised given it's the place I've discovered some of metal's best kept secrets.

To be released on CD through Chaos Records and Personal Records, February 26th 2021.

Rating: 8.3 out of 10

Review by Alex on January 13, 2021.

Drooling for more, as though this is the first time ever hearing death/doom metal. This band going by the name Slough of Despair may have read my mind. This is what death/doom really sounds like whenever I hear the term. Riffs with jagged teeth, dragging you slowly on the mildew, cold, hard concrete. Catacombs of Terror is like that horror movie you can't stop going back to regardless of how many times you've seen it. The movie here, the way I perceive it is existence and the unsound elements challenging each breath.

It's hard to believe there was barely any coverage of the album given how excellent the music is as a result of its direct and meticulous crafting. The production is impeccable, and is exploited by outstanding synth and melodic guitar sections as heard on 'Burial of Sanity' and 'Humanity's Crucifixion', yet within the clean sound resids a rather hideous and vile attitude compliments of the nasty rasps of the vocalist who has a somewhat similar style to those heard in Vastum. This ongoing battle between beauty and beast is what makes this album special and keeps you nodding away to a swift descent into slumber.

The guitar work is just fabulous, hence 'Shattered Reality' and 'Cursed Fate' magnify the effect of what Slough of Despair do on Catacombs of Terror. Perhaps my favorite characteristic of the album, but only by a slim margin given all other aspects trail closely behind. The drumming has its moments too given the beefy thump, oftentimes aided by the spacy and eerie guitar work. They sort of broaden the atmosphere especially when the power chords are synchronised with certain snare and cymbal sections.

The song titles give you an idea as to what is being addressed, yet it's the way the band goes about it that gives you the feeling of watching something actively regress into a state of total negativity. It's just incredible this album, and coming from Greece, I'm not surprised given it's the place I've discovered some of metal's best kept secrets.

To be released on CD through Chaos Records and Personal Records, February 26th 2021.

Rating: 8.3 out of 10

Review by JD on January 13, 2012.

Getting bored with my Black Metal collection as the Canadian winter closes in on my sorry ass, I was glad to get some new music to review. USBM has been on the rise lately, and veteran BM band from Indiana Ptahil has slid across my desk to reaffirm the rising. Hopefully this will cure the boredom I had been experiencing.

This two man Black Metal machine has been on my radar for some time. I had heard one of their first offering awhile ago ("Anti-Flesh Existence") and was impressed beyond belief with the music they had made. Now I have their latest offering and I was excited to finally do a review on them. The album I had heard before was pretty good throughout, I remember. With this newest album, I was more than just interested how far they had come as I put the CD in... I was very excited.

With nine songs of pure malevolence presence that hold a feeling of raw and unabashed demonic power, Ptahil powers into your very mind, into your helpless soul. Each Satan inspired track drips and oozes this hellish command, while being straight ahead basic. My favorite track here is the tempestuous and dark attack of 'The Black Fire'- the song is very heavy, dripping with blood soaked savagery and yet it seems nearly catchy at the same time.

Simply put Ptahil are such amazing twosome of musicians, who keep every note so simple while showing that under it is all planned out. These Indiana based Hellfire warriors blow me away and they give every band out there a wake up call, proudly announcing that they are breathing down your collective necks.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 8
Originality: 8
Overall: 9

Rating: 8.6 out of 10