Satan’s Host
Pre-dating God Part 1 & Part 2
Moribund Records
2015
Satan’s Host is the penultimate example of a “cult” band. Cult, because, they seem to be a bit of a paradox. They perform this blackened heavy metal, which pretty much resides between early thrash and proto-black metal, with heavy metal vocals, actually employing one of the best heavy metal vocalists in the genre, Harry “The Tyrant” Conclin. While no one can fault them, as being a bad band, their weird style owning a lot to Mercyful Fate and Hell (while it’s unlikely they were influenced by the latter who never really made it big in the 80s) their songs lack in imagination and one of the main aspects that made people interested in the band, in the first place was the fact that “The Tyrant” was the band’s singer. (Even if his singing is mediocre at best on these albums)
The songs themselves are not that much better. Cliché 80s metal, that might not be bad, but fails to actually prove too characteristic at least in much of “Part 1”. It should be telling that without Conclin, the albums that the band released, really reached a far smaller audience and were far more difficult to listen to as they were, pretty much true to the bands style, but featured some pretty abysmal, black metal/harsh vocals, of questionable quality. Questionable choices continue... Conklin, sounds as bad as he ever did on Satan’s Host, using weak falsettos to reach ridiculous notes in gnomy voices, and sounds, like a mix between himself on a bad day, Cronos and King Diamond’s (w/o the trademark flasettos) lower register. Some people, especially those who love more “Heathen stuff” I suppose, might be wetting their pants already! But as a fan of Harry’s works with Jag Panzer, I find it a bit as a joke that he’s not doing anything with them but chooses to involve himself with lesser diversions. I suppose, metal doesn’t pay the bills, unfortunately, a day job does. No disrespect to Satan’t Host, but Harry’s choices are befuddling.
The first part seems to be a lot more “dark” and “black metal” inspired and that’s not too interesting... at least not until the middle of the title track when Harry begins to opt for a more traditional style which is somewhat solacing. The second part, seems to contain songs that are a lot more geared towards traditional forms, like “Fanning the Flames of Hell”, “Lady ‘n the Snake”, “Descending in the Shadow of Osiris” and so on... but delivering two albums, instead of one by only including a cover (a decent take on Grim Reaper’s, “See You in Hell” tacked at the end of “Part 1” and a reprise of “Pre-dating God at the end of Part 2” (that’s a done in lot more classic metal style, bar some evil uttering in the middle), seems like an easy way, to try and extract a few more Hellish dollars, from drunken, mega fans, of the “Uber-Cult” band, who might buy both albums unless the album comes out as a 2in1 for a “friendly” price... yeah, this is cult alright and Harry is a great vocalist, but this is a case that putting 2 and 2 has actually come a bit short of 4, unfortunately…
The songs themselves are not that much better. Cliché 80s metal, that might not be bad, but fails to actually prove too characteristic at least in much of “Part 1”. It should be telling that without Conclin, the albums that the band released, really reached a far smaller audience and were far more difficult to listen to as they were, pretty much true to the bands style, but featured some pretty abysmal, black metal/harsh vocals, of questionable quality. Questionable choices continue... Conklin, sounds as bad as he ever did on Satan’s Host, using weak falsettos to reach ridiculous notes in gnomy voices, and sounds, like a mix between himself on a bad day, Cronos and King Diamond’s (w/o the trademark flasettos) lower register. Some people, especially those who love more “Heathen stuff” I suppose, might be wetting their pants already! But as a fan of Harry’s works with Jag Panzer, I find it a bit as a joke that he’s not doing anything with them but chooses to involve himself with lesser diversions. I suppose, metal doesn’t pay the bills, unfortunately, a day job does. No disrespect to Satan’t Host, but Harry’s choices are befuddling.
The first part seems to be a lot more “dark” and “black metal” inspired and that’s not too interesting... at least not until the middle of the title track when Harry begins to opt for a more traditional style which is somewhat solacing. The second part, seems to contain songs that are a lot more geared towards traditional forms, like “Fanning the Flames of Hell”, “Lady ‘n the Snake”, “Descending in the Shadow of Osiris” and so on... but delivering two albums, instead of one by only including a cover (a decent take on Grim Reaper’s, “See You in Hell” tacked at the end of “Part 1” and a reprise of “Pre-dating God at the end of Part 2” (that’s a done in lot more classic metal style, bar some evil uttering in the middle), seems like an easy way, to try and extract a few more Hellish dollars, from drunken, mega fans, of the “Uber-Cult” band, who might buy both albums unless the album comes out as a 2in1 for a “friendly” price... yeah, this is cult alright and Harry is a great vocalist, but this is a case that putting 2 and 2 has actually come a bit short of 4, unfortunately…