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One of the most consistently extreme bands on the death/black scene crested their throne built of bones once again to uncompromisingly attack humanity, three years after their 2014 demonstration of brutality, Conjuring The Dead. 2017's Totenritual consists of nine compositions which, blow-by-blow, silence any doubts about the supremacy of these icons of the European scene. Merciless riff force, crunchy blasts in a dark setting – 24 years after their foundation, Belphegor's inventive creativity places them head and shoulders above the rest. Anyone looking for silence, beautiful melodies and a life-affirming aura will suffocate under the power of Totenritual.
The eleventh studio album of the undisputed death/black metal scene conductors follows the sophisticated path of its precursors and will have their followers kneeling down in humility. The commander of death-sounds does not use a blunt corset of henchmen for his attacks on society's conventions, but demonstrates his skills as a high-class songwriter. From determined songs, embossed by an obsessed directness, to majestic ritualistic hymns - followers of darkest sermons will be led directly into the abyss. Totenritual enters mercilessly into the procession of Belphegor's works of art: another thorn in the eye of every upholder of moral standards – the end is heralded.
For the recordings of Totenritual, the squad retired to Stage One Studios in Germany and Studio Mischmaschine in Austria. For the diabolic wall of sound, the explosive material was sent across the pond and was refined in the Audiohammer Studios in Florida by Jason Suecof (mix) and Mark Lewis (mastering). The impressive cover artwork was again created by the Greek artist Seth Siro Anton, who has also created the striking visual countenance for Pestapocalypse VI (2006) and Conjuring The Dead (2014).