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Teitanblood > Seven Chalices > Reviews
Teitanblood - Seven Chalices

Tribute to the Grave - 86%

GuntherTheUndying, October 29th, 2010

"Seven Chalices" is so unacceptably filthy that any individual not familiar with various death/black metal approaches will find it violating and repulsive beyond their wildest dreams. Indeed, that was my original take on this when I acquired it several months ago, but after understanding the roots and influences Teitanblood pay homage to, such as Celtic Frost and Autopsy, I became impressed, maybe even satisfied. Hell, I'll flat out say there ain't another death/black metal group out in our small, blue planet that can achieve a slither of the gruesomeness our Spanish comrades have made, and hot damn, it's a gory mess from beginning to end. Teitanblood's approach is cold, deadly, and primitive enough to make the death metal necrophiliacs worldwide stop the constant desecration and roast the massive tribute to old-school insanity provided by these Spanish marauders.

Obviously, the sole quality behind "Seven Chalices" will appeal to metalhead's on any level: ravenous death metal showing tints of Celtic Frost's fury, the doom of Autopsy, and the annihilated edge provided by countless other classic bands that crafted a stern, violent legacy. Teitanblood thrashes in a maniacal frenzy loaded with riff after riff of stellar worship of these groups, doused in the band's own individualism that features well-written objects blasted into obilivion through the proper idolization of said factions and qualities; nothing fancy at all, but it does the trick. The album does have a unique ability to grow on the listener, making it even more irresistible after the onslaught has become a custom. Overall, nothing about Teitanblood is totally original per se, yet they have a blood-stained power to capture the best of death/black metal in its primordial stage, only a few decades ex post facto. Many try, only few succeed; Teitanblood earns their right to boast the later.

Also, the record sounds like it was taped under an unearthed tomb beneath the world's most notorious Indian burial ground; totally unbalanced, unclear and dirtier than worms in filth. Teitanblood's direction is definitely the one quality some will love and others detest. "Seven Chalies" runs for a monolithic hour under the sign of old-school extreme metal that typically remains in the same circumference of material, yielding minimal variety overall. I do believe Teitanblood is dynamic enough to eject the issue for the most part, but it's definitely something that needs awareness, yet they make up for it with riffs, riffs, riffs, and more soul-slaying riffs.

Also, the interludes laced throughout "Seven Chalices" just stink of pure, rotten evil down to the bone. There are three in total, each one making the record even more scary than the cannibalistic slaughter Teitanblood so elegantly emits, and are nothing to skip over. No matter what the person or entity claim, know Teitanblood is as old-school and disturbing as death metal can get without becoming a self-parody or silly charade. If you got the thirst for the grave, call the guys from Teitanblood; they'll bring the casket.

This review was written for: www.Thrashpit.com

As Filthy And Distorted As It Gets - 84%

Lateralus14, August 20th, 2010

In the year 2009, Norma Evangelium Diaboli legends Deathspell Omega remained silent, issuing no follow-up to 2008’s complex masterpiece Chaining the Katechon, and the slightly more obscure Funeral Mist went downhill with the disappointing release of Maranatha. This left Katharsis of VVorld VVithout End fame and newer bands Weapon and Teitanblood in charge of the NoEvDia label’s 2009 output. All three bands released exceptional material, but Teitanblood’s Seven Chalices was, to these ears, the most standout release of the three.

Teitanblood’s sound is derived from a variety of influences; their brand of blackened death metal is reminiscent of Blasphemy, Asphyx, Mayhem, and other influential groups within the genres of either black or death metal. Both their vocal style and lead guitars closely resemble those of Blasphemy, with their solos utilizing a similar form of whammy bar abuse. Teitanblood tempo and riffing style also varies drastically throughout the album, with both thrash and doom influences present, much like the first two Asphyx albums.

What really sets Teitanblood apart from other blackened death metal acts, however, is not their addition of thrash or doom influences or their own brand of Blasphemy worship, but rather their production. Specifically: the guitar tone. Teitanblood’s guitar tone is quite possibly the dirtiest, most distorted guitar tone I have ever heard, and in a good way. While their influences are primarily black metal, the doomy sections with this filthy guitar tone easily hold their own against the heaviest death/doom acts.

Seven Chalices is also littered with Middle Eastern influenced interludes between various songs, interludes reminiscent of Necros Christos but with fewer instruments. While these interludes can seem trite or boring, they provide the listener with a much-needed respite in context of the album, which assaults the listener with full force during the metal tracks.

Teitanblood may not be the most original blackened death act out there, but Seven Chalices offers a refreshing mix of primitive Blasphemy worship and sludgy death metal, and is certainly a joy to blast at loud volumes, thanks to that filthy guitar tone.

Dark and Primitive - 89%

orphy, September 24th, 2009

Teitanblood is a band that has really surprised me. Initially, I thought this band wasn't worth much. Granted, I had only heard some low fidelity analog rips from the internet, but I couldn't really get into it. After hearing the earlier material on the "Black Putrescence of Evil" compilation, I began to suspect that there might be a bit more to this band that I first thought. This album, however, out shadows anything that Teitanblood has done yet, and has turned out to be one of my favourites this year.

The production here is rather fitting - it's quite filthy. The guitar tone is dirty and bassy, but nothing really gets buried. All the instruments sound like a horrific machine working together to create some really dark death metal. Top that off with a really killer vocal performance with some cool reverb and delay, and you have yourself a winning combination.

Musically, "Seven Chalices" falls somewhere under the influence of Autopsy, Blasphemy, and Celtic Frost. The riffs are pretty primitive and brutal, and never really get technical. They are fairly memorable and will make any true death metal fan move their head. There's some riffs with more defined grooves, like in "Whore Mass", then there are some much faster riffs in the next track, "Domains of Darkness and Ancient Evil". The lead work is noisy and full of dive-bombs and runs, similar to Blasphemy. The track "Morbid Devil of Pestilence" has some absolutely deadly riffing, sounding like Celtic Frost's "Into Crypt Of Rays" with more muscle.

The songs get pretty involved on this album, especially by the end with 12 and 9 minute songs taking up the end. I've listened to this album over and over and not found myself thinking any tracks drag or sound redundant. The flow of this record is really quite nice, much in thanks to the alternation of songs and interludes.

There are several interludes to be found on this album, all with varying techniques and sounds. They all are eerie in their own ways, with usage of different stringed instruments. As it should, these interludes provide more of an overall atmosphere to "Seven Chalices".

The difference between Teitanblood and their comrades in Proclamation is simple: originality. Teitanblood's first full length offers a different twist, where as Proclamation just does what's already been done. I always thought Teitanblood was falling in that trap, but they certainly proved me wrong with "Seven Chalices". It's proved to be a ripping and really evil sounding record. The album's artwork and booklet are really pleasing due to its rather bizarre aesthetic. An album like this is definitely worth the purchase.

Enchanting the cosmos with anti-technical death - 100%

Phosphorous, September 14th, 2009

Spanish necromancers, Teitanblood issue out “Seven Chalices,” a hideously scarring album of anti-technical death spewing terror. The music is wholly drenched in fiendishly melodious ooze, which is how I’d describe the combination of the music and the dense beyond belief production. After you’re done listening to this prime cut of raw production finesse, don’t be surprised if your eyes start itch and burn from not blinking for an hour.

Instantly, the Gregorian chanting ungodliness of “Whoremass” puts the “anti-Christian” stamp on “Seven Chalices.” “Morbid Devil of Pestilence” has the type of sinister atmosphere, super foreboding and eerie, that other extreme metal bands would kill for and they didn’t have to use a voice-over or programming to do it. “Seven Chalices of Vomit and Blood” is a supreme offering to the gods of sonic terror. The fast paced music, full of maniacal riffs made with down-tuned and fiery guitars are like running zombies. Just scary. Of course, “The Abomination of Desolation” also stands out, rising up from the ground, starting out fast with the guitars and drums, but quickly turning into a slow-motion horror-movie flick as the music starts to slothfully meld into a doom/death track. Listening to “Seven Chalices” is like sitting on top of a tall hill overlooking a horde of putrid zombies feasting on ripe human flesh; you can’t stop watching even though you know you’re about to die.

It’s official now, basement production has been slain by this militia of “coffin production.” This release just had to have been recorded underneath six feet of moist grave soil. Merely listening to Teitanblood’s ancient slaughter makes it hard to breathe, like your throat and nostrils are getting filled with cold earth from this cut with a knife sound. It isn’t fuzzy and frost-bitten like black metal, but heavier and more attuned to play in the cemetery than the legendary raw death metal legends, Autopsy, themselves. “Seven Chalices” must be played through your own speakers to truly understand the psychotic, funeralistic death metal of Teitanblood.

- Written for Tanin'iver Zine

Even The Whores Gave Praise !!!!!! - 100%

hellhippie, August 6th, 2009

Spain's Teitanblood have been around for a few years at the time of this writing and have put out a great demo and two split 7" e.p's . This being their first attempt at a full length album makes it immediately apparent to those that know of them that it has been undoubtedly worth the five year wait . The earlier material released by this band had been a complete grim gritty filled blasphemous mixture of both death and black metal influences strewn together to make for one sick sick band but this album is just unbelievably all that and so much more .

Upon first listening to the intro "Whore Mass" and the soul crushing first riff, one is taken to a black musical void from which there is no escape . I literally said out loud upon hearing it for the first time "Really ??" as in almost total joyous disbelief that a band has and truly just did write one of the sickest heaviest grooviest riffs this lifelong lover of death and black metal has ever heard . The funny thing about that previously mentioned bold statement is that there is just so much more that this band gives throughout this amazing album than just the music . Teitanblood's Seven Chalices put's a suffocating stranglehold on the listener that slowly tightens it's morbid morose all encompassing grip with each second of listening that passes .

The artwork on the album just seeps evilness from it's very core . The band's name, even of itself conjures up a feeling of long forgotten lords, whose conquests and significance have in one way or another been ravaged and forgotten throughout the centuries . Everything about this band just exudes an old ancient evil feeling that comes across in everything this album has to offer . This band created a mood not just an album . The intros (or interludes as printed on the album) seem to actually enhance the spirituality of the all encompassing listening experience . The multitude of languages used Greek, French, Sanskrit, Hebrew, Arabic and so on are old seemingly ritualistic feeling dialects that have been perfectly placed to give Seven Chalices all the more of a grim cold blasphemous feeling . When the music does come in, it seems to feel warm and inviting after the coldness of the interludes that one almost has to endure as they are long yet well thought out, and are not merely intro's to these sick evil songs but as much a part of them as the actual music itself .

Speaking of the music itself is no easy task . Teitanblood's music is thick and layered with a controlled chaotic feeling . The riffs are some of the heaviest one could ever hope to hear and are well thought out . At times they contain an oozing evil slyness similar in groove to the mighty Beherit . At other times they are very harsh and abrasive and seem to be heavily influenced by the early South American death metal scene . There are so many traits that this band and this album in particular contains that Teitanblood are obviously influenced by now heavily worshiped pioneers of the underground such as Beherit, Blasphemy, and Sarcofago . The vocals seem to be tortured and loaded with an evil echo that reverberates throughout the songs so well . The lack of the all too common and heavily abused guttural pitch shifted trickery that many bands these days get caught up on is not here, instead what we have is a natural evil flowing unique vocal track that makes the utter bone crushing heaviness of the music sound all that much heavier . The drummer sounds possessed and consistently keeps the already unique sound this band has all that much more unique . The off kilter sound of some of the song structures has to be heard to be believed .

While staying true-to-form to the death metal/black metal mode of attack this band pulls of what most bands only hope to do . The effortless sound they have put together contains odd little grim blasphemous accent marks that are strewn throughout this amazing record . The maniacal solos that almost seem hastily thrown in for good measure all make sense when taken in as a highlight to the complete body of work . The early underground scene worship is there in its entirety . There are obvious nods to the great bands of old that made the underground death metal scene what is is today . Though a quick point should be made, Teitanblood seem to incorporate all the great traits of both death and black metal and it comes as a welcome breathe of fresh air because I have always felt the endless genre labeling thing has just been argued to DEATH !!! This band keeps the evil flowing from every single ounce of their being and it shows . If you worship all that's cold and morbid like this reviewer does well then stop reading this and fucking buy this album now, because this band FUCKING RULES !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BUY THIS NOW.....