Review by Adam M on June 29, 2010.

Very technical metal is on display here that prides itself on speed and intensity. There are many moments that are quite compelling and the band do an admirable job keeping their material frenetic. It’s also apparent that Deivos might bring things up a couple of notches too high as well, as there could be a little more control to be found. Nimble drumming and furious guitar playing take precedence in the mix. The focus is definitely upon bringing a chaotic style into the forefront and they bring a technical level of finesse that is quite worth appreciating to the listener.

You could compare Deivos to a band like Nile, but we can detect a looser approach here. Most of the songs on the album are of similar quality, although there is certainly variation to be found in the riff structures between them. The pace the band maintains is definitely quicker than that which Nile performs at and shows off the talent of the band’s performers. In fact, the least interesting facet of the album is perhaps the vocals, which just fit into the background, but do nothing to separate themselves from the rest of the material. Otherwise, nimble textures are crafted that create a complex sound arena for the band.

One could argue the band might improve by trying to slow down their musical tempos and trying to bring slower, more compelling moments to the forefront, but the music is tight enough to overlook how there could be slightly more ingenious moments to be found. Fans of technical metal should be in for enough of a treat with the release as they will be able to digest the intense display perhaps better than the remainder of all metal listeners. Still, anyone looking for something adventurous could give "Gospel Of Maggots" a try as well.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 8.5
Atmosphere: 7
Production: 7.5
Originality: 7
Overall: 7.6

Rating:7.6 out of 10

Review by Felix on June 22, 2019.

You know the story of the two sides of the coin, don't you? Black metal from Québec is one of these coins. Some say that all bands have the same sound and the same approach, but others are of the opinion that these bands have created a new style under the banner of "métal noir québécois". Well, maybe it's no new style, but an unmistakable identity. Délétère play exactly the style that everybody has in mind when it comes to the francophone Canadian metropolis. Sound cascades like waterfalls take possession of the listener and draw her or him into a nightmarish scenario. Almost overlong song patterns and guitar lines which are sometimes repetitive but always effective set the right frame for a trip to the end of time and back.

Délétère are not lazy and therefore they deliver three new songs, even though their last album is just eleven months old. That's a remarkably short period, but who wants to stop creative people as long as they write fanatic black metal tunes? Me not. Speaking of creativity, the promo sheet wants to make us believe that "Délétère distills its very own essence of powerful, raw, and melodic black metal", but to mention a very own essence is ridiculous. As mentioned above, the opposite is true. The formation does not hurt the guidelines of the sub-genre and I enjoy it the way it is. The three tracks cover all facets of MNQ movement and the profound, alternating anthemic or fast guitar lines prevent any form of boredom. Of course, the bar has been set very high by De Horae Leprae, but the EP is willing and - nearly - able to challenge this mighty album. Sacral keyboards add an atmospheric touch and lend the opener an eldritch touch. However, the band mostly prefers fast sequences, in short, the here presented songs exactly follow the route that the band's previous material has already taken. Fans of the former outputs can buy this work blindly.

Maybe the last ounce of currishness is missing and the religious yet ill-fated character of De Horae Leprae does not reappear in full bloom. Nevertheless, all songs convince and the threatening guitars at the beginning and the end of "Milites Pestilentiae III – Babylonia Magnissima" create some of the best moments of the EP. However, Theovorator: Babelis Testamentum is immune against feeble parts and its playtime of roughly 20 minutes is not too long, to say the least. The appropriate, dense sound completes the picture. Forteresse beware, because Délétère have the potential to pen a full-length which could oust "Thémes pour la rébellion" from the throne. Either way, Québec can be proud of triggering the most exciting wave in terms of present extreme metal. And that's exactly the reason why I forget the other side of the coin right now.

Rating: 8.3 out of 10