September 2, 2010

Reviewer: Matt

Unsurprisingly this is the first “most anticipated” to deliver, Ledney & co. releaseing after much delay their second full length.  Already legendary before the advent of the “USBM” tag and one of the handful of those so marketed with substance, Profanatica has spent their career hoodwinking with aesthetic abrasiveness disguising conceptual substance.  From their early demos to 2007’s Profanatitas De Domonatia tongue was planted firmly in cheek, implicitly mocking the Marduks and all the ham-fisted weekend Satanic warriors with bare-bones composition and antimusical production.

So in a sense Disgusting Blasphemies Against God is a reconsideration of sorts of the imitable and widely imitated Profanatica sound, a reconfiguration into something more accessible but no less confrontational.  Abandoning the quasi-industrial production of Profanatitas, drums are a thunderous barrage, Ledney’s tastefully restrained percussion ever jazz-like in its playfulness with space but typically menacing in its recklessness.  Driving the new Profanatica sound is a ridiculously - and some may say inappropriately - upfront bass guitar, distorted into a gnarly growl and all but drowning out the trebly guitar.  Bass guitar in fact is the dominant lead instrument; attentive listeners will notice the guitar drop out mid-verse and the bass carry the riff through to the bridge (see the furious “Smashing Religious Fucking Statutes”).  Funny to tag Profanatica as revolutionary, but with bands from Manowar to Necromantia bringing the bass guitar to a leading role as a melodic instrument, it’s totally beyond all expectations that the bass dominates here in its traditional role.  This is and has been Profanatica’s strength: creating and innovating within very narrow aesthetic confines.  So all in all Disgusting Blasphemies Against God is a highly rhyhmtic release, a fairly dramatic yet satisfying departure from the Norsey tremolo melodies of the last album. 

Profanatica has always straddled the line between black and death metal, though primarily due to their inception when genre lines weren’t so rigidly drawn.  Here they’re firmly in death metal mode, riffs culled more from the early NYDM of Incantation and Immolation from which shat out the inspiration for “Weeping in Heaven” then the black metal orthodoxy of their 2007 comeback.  So it’s surprising to see mixed reviews around the ‘net from Profanatica fans (though not surprising to see the reaction from knee-jerk non-fans of course) when Profanatica is more true-to-form with Disgusting Blasphemies… than they have been in some time.

Lyrics, as alluded to above, are hilarious.  Ledney’s humor transcribed as über-blasphemy is a riot, petulant rants of an idiot-savant who had an allergic reaction to communion wafers or maybe didn’t so much enjoy a handy by a lecherous backwoods pastor.  Any way you skin it, a song titled “Angel With a Cock” is too over the top to take - let alone judge - seriously, so look to Deathspell Omega for sophistication because none of that is found or necessary here.  Some bands provide the listener a convenient qualification for their anti-Christianity, to wit, a pretentious air of intellectualism that sanitizes for popular consumption that which lose all teeth when sanitized.   Profanatica wants to be outrageous and offensive; they’re not “Pisschrist” sitting in a NYC gallery for the rabble to gaggle over.  They’re pissing on the altar of Christ.  Call it silly, call it immature.  Some feel the best art gets in your face without waffling, compromise, or apology. Disgusting Blasphemies Against God is another Profanatica release that subscribes to that school.

Release Date: August 16th, 2010
Label: Hells Headbangers

TRACK LISTING

1.  Black Cum
2.  Pious Piece of Shit
3.  Christ's Precious Blood Poisoned
4.  Smashing Religious Fucking
     Statues
5.  Fuck the Blood of the Lamb
6.  Covered in Black Shit
7.  No Trumpet Shall Sound
8.  Crush all that is Holy Defile
9.  Excrement Sacrosanct
10.  Angel with Cock

Total playing time:  40:22

*By clicking "Submit" you agree to the following Terms of Use. You agree not to post any material that is obscene, slanderous, or threatening, or that may violate any law of your country of origin or the United States or of international law. Should you wish to restrict viewing of your email address by third parties, you must select "Hide My Email." You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Metal Psalter from any claims, actions, suits, damages, or other costs arising out of any breach of these Terms of Use.

*Comments:

Profanatica - Disgusting Blasphemies Against God