Review by Felix on April 4, 2024.

Once Krokus were the leading hard rock / heavy metal export from Switzerland. After a forgettable progressive rock beginning, the band released a couple of albums which were a tiny little bit inspired by AC/DC, if I remember correctly. I loved these vinyls. Then came “Change of Address”, terrible artwork, terrible new image (see them in their multi-coloured pop outfits on the back cover) and terribly polished music. I felt the need to vomit (in German: “kotzen”). And maybe the guys of Chotzä (in German once again: “kotzen”) had the same impulse when they got in contact with this album for the first time.

At least their level of aggression indicates a high degree of disgust and bitterness. Don’t let yourself be confused by the well-hung leads that kick off the opener. The promo does not promise too much when it speaks about Pächschwarz as another “piece of puke”. And even the almost, but only almost melancholic melody lines of the opener have the rotten smell of corpses nobody found during the last four weeks. I guess the title of the first song means 'Forgotten By God', no guarantee, because their regional dialect has nothing to do with the German I know and speak. If somebody told me they sing in Chinese, I would believe it as well. Anyway, this is a fitting title for the opener. I don’t think that a higher might wants to be connected with this sulphurous yet awesome stinker. 'Schimubuebae' is the next song name and I have no clue about its meaning. Perhaps it is a Swiss word for “We are from the same country as Tom G. Warrior and therefore we have integrated two little “Ugh!” in this song”. But I am not sure. What I know is that this piece of environmental pollution houses fantastically flowing lines in the Scandinavian tradition, but also a rebellious solo that prevents an overdose of Nordic black metal. Chotzä do not use new tools, but they create a very special sound with the tried and tested ones. Sometimes they border on crustcore, but atmosphere plays a surprisingly big role too. Blast beats are welcome from time to time and it goes without saying that the lead singer is not interested in offering tones which are as clear as the sound of a bell. The vocal cords of this dude seem to be covered by thick layers of filth. His metallic performance is a little contrast to the guitars. Sometimes they have a very punky note. But Chotzä, who may be like bands such as Transilvanian Beat Club, put everything in the right balance. Songs like the very cool, intense and hateful 'Loeutschae' (another absolutely mysterious title) even add a spooky touch. Unfortunately the second half of the album is less outstanding. Neither 'Unusgschprochae' (solid Burzum-esque tremolo riffing lines, but also somewhat lame parts) nor 'Satan’s Suendae' (based on quite average guitar lines) fall completely through the net, but they cannot hold a candle to the remaining tracks. 'Fieberwahn' (I understand the title!) brings the guys back on track due to its pressure, aggression and compactness, while the large-formatted, proper closer wallows somewhere between melancholy and agony.

And that’s it, eight fittingly produced tracks that have the potential to catapult you into the best bad mood you have ever had. If you are Chris von Rohr or Fernando von Arb, perhaps you should stay away from this output. Everybody else is invited to lend an ear to Pächschwarz.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Review by Alain on March 2, 2020.

Ancient Moon is one of those projects which like to hide under a veil of mystery, presumably to create an aura of obscurity, which always help to reinforce its musical proposal. In fact, I don’t know a lot about this international project composed by three musicians whose names remain unknown to the general public. Ancient Moon was created in an unknown place and date, and the first thing we know is that they released a quite competent debut entitled Vvltvure, back in 2015 with the Russian underground label Satanath Records. That debut showed the love of the band for long songs as this debut was composed by a single mammoth song which almost lasted 30 minutes. Now, four years later and after a split album released in 2018, Ancient Moon returns with its sophomore work entitled Beneditus Diabolica, Gloria Patri.

Beneditus Diabolica, Gloria Patri is another dark ritual consisting of two long tracks, each one clocking around 17 and 20 minutes, respectively. Ancient Moon plays a very dark form of atmospheric black metal with a distinctive murky and obscure production, which fits perfectly well what this dark incantation wants to be. The album needs to be listened in its entirety as the band creates long pieces as a part of a unique tenebrous ritual, where each instrument and arrangements has a sole purpose, to build a dense atmosphere which wants to captivate the listener in an immersive music experience. The aura of mystery evolves both compositions which have long atmospheric sections created with keys, organs and other instruments, showing the skills of this musicians when they have to compose music with a strong sense of atmosphere. Pace wise both tracks have a general mid-tempo style, though thankfully the pace is not monotonous through the whole compositions, as both songs contain some faster sections adequately mixed the aforementioned ambient sections, slower and the most common mid-tempo sections. The guitars have a murky tone, though the production can be considered good and well balanced, they even have a certain dissonant tone which fits the ritualistic chaos of these compositions. Their role in this album is quite relevant and they are certainly a strong point, as they sound well composed and with distinguishable melodies and a welcoming variety. This notorious role is shared with the already mentioned keys, which have a sole leadership in certain moments, as in others they are the perfect companion of the guitars. Sometimes, they appear in the front, like in the ambient sections or when the organs appear like for example in 'Benedictus Diabolica, Gloria Patri Pt 1' and in other sections you can find them more in the background. Anyway, they are never overrepresented as they appear in an adequate quantity. Alongside the guitars and the keys, the vocals have also a strong performance, and as it happened with the instruments they adequate their tone and style to the different sections achieving an excellent result. The vocals can sound at times with a clear black metal style with those shrieks, while they can also have a death metal touch as they adequate their style to a lower and cavernous tone. In certain moments they also remind me Attila Csihar’s very personal and unique vocals. One of the best moments is when they introduce choir esque vocals, which fit perfectly well this kind of ritualistic black metal and are, in my opinion, one of the best moments of this album.

In conclusion, Benedictus Diabolica, Gloria Patri is undoubtedly a quite strong second album and the best compliment I can say about it is that it achieves to create the ceremonious, murky and perturbing atmosphere that the band wanted to beget.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Review by Alex on July 28, 2019.

It's the number 1 reason Iron Bonehead Records is the best record label (for me), the musicians existing under their umbrella carry with them a definitive attachment to the occult. Not only do they bring the ritual to the turntable, but the music used as a tool to forecast the journey is as important and pleasing as the rituals. Stepping before the lit candle is Ancient Moon with an accumulation of members native to Belgium, France and Switzerland. As for the actual identity of the individuals involved, no one knows but themselves; they exist under one letter names being J (bass, keyboards, vocals), B (drums, vocals) and O (guitars, vocals) further adding to the mysterious aura of their corrupted steel. After having released their debut full length in 2015 titled Vvltvre which was then followed by a split with Prosternatur being Secretum Secretorum in 2018, they return from the abyssal realms with horrors and an even more terrifying presence, this time under the sigil of Benedictus Diabolica, Gloria Patri. Comprised of 2 lengthy psychic occurrences aptly self-titled. Two celestial monoliths expanding cracks in the void to excavate its most prestigious elements. This is black metal, it shows no limits to the depth of the dark philosophies and teachings, it loads the cannon with impurities and blasts it at you.  

Riffing, drumming, chanting and throating flirtatiously to the obscurity of the genre, Ancient Moon remind the listener that black metal is for the mentally unchained, those who walk the path of enlightenment, the witches' ascendancy stairway to truths and unspeakable pleasures. With bouldering thumps of the drums, trancing guitars and sung chants among the palette of resonance, Benedictus Diabolica, Gloria Patri can be compared to the honorary class of releases from covens active within the Helvetic Underground Committee. Though I am not aware if Ancient Moon is fronted by members of such an esteemed establishment, I do get the feeling they are indeed apart of such judging by the scope and methodology of the ritual trance administered here on Benedictus Diabolica, Gloria Patri. Hence the music is vibrant and is stitched to last; shaking sounds of the drums crack the foundation while a cloud of rhythms harnesses the power accumulated to mend the music. Violently climaxing yet soothingly calm at times, Ancient Moon bring to life contrasting excellence while creating anathematizing harmonies on Benedictus Diabolica, Gloria Patri. 

Impressive is the least I can say about the mania heard here, they go beyond giving just another black metal record; instead, feeding the cauldron with the antique essences of the genre. I could see this sharing the same salutations as Finis' "Visions of Doom", or Lykhaeon's "Ominous Eradication of Anguished Souls" as a testament to how adeptly the workings are being executed. I hope there will be more to follow given the pleasurable quality of the music on Benedictus Diabolica, Gloria Patri and it's accompanied paraphernalia; yet another privileged offering to the altar of black metal which has seen many fail to even reach the coveted temple through feeble attempts at what they call 'music'. Could not be happier the members within the space of Ancient Moon have not been identified; that layer of obscurity is reinforced and leaves the band and Benedictus Diabolica, Gloria Patri open to much speculation by supporters, something that has been largely absent within the genre. This is a solid entry that has deeply inscribed the trademarks of a professional entity committed to maintaining the well-being of black metal.

Rating: 9.4 out of 10