Review by Felix on February 4, 2020.

The first Slaughter Messiah output I got in touch with was Morbid Re-Incantations and here we have the persecutor of this fascinating EP. The general approach does not differ from the record from 2016 and this is anything but a surprise when considering the former activities of Lord Sabathan. As a logical consequence, Slaughter Messiah present vehement, violent and infernal black metal whose riffs originate from the lungs of hell. Nevertheless, the band does not forget to intersperse the necessary modicum of melodies. The three songs do not reach the fantastic level of the highlights of Morbid Re-Incantations, but Putrid Invokation provides 13 minutes of diabolical entertainment.

The well-equipped (black) vinyl offers a lyric sheet and a poster with the cover artwork, but, of course, the music is the main content. The back cover promises "Ancient Metal of Death", but in my humble opinion, the black metal elements maintain the upper hand. The brutality of Slaughter Messiah's music might be comparable with that of some death metal formations, but generally speaking, the music has not much in common with old school death metal. The guitars are not absurdly low-tuned, the lead vocalist does not growl, and the melodic ingredients always deliver an atmospheric element. The configuration of the songs lies precisely in the middle between high sophisticated and primitive. Finally, the well-placed tempo changes contribute dynamic and dramatic vibrations.

In terms of quantity, such a relatively short release might be deemed as questionable, but everybody with a penchant for apocalyptic black metal will enjoy the quality of the EP. I promise that there are no signs of fickleness or laxness, the Belgians know only one direction and stay away from any form of experiment. But fortunately, they also know how their music must sound. The EP has a proper sound, minimally blurred yet aggressive, raw and roughshod. Long story short, this vinyl will not disappoint all freaks who like pure, authentic black metal. Hopefully, the formation breaks out of its EP scheme and publishes a full-length pretty soon.

Rating: 7.7 out of 10