Summoner’s Circle – Cult

Written by on 23-05-2024 at 19:01.

An American band that has been making progressive doom/death/black metal since 2015, and we at Zware Metalen haven’t written about them before? That simply can’t be true, yet it is. The Cult we’re reviewing here is the fourth studio album from this Summoner’s Circle, and unlike the three previous albums, it’s less traditionally based on horror but more of a protest against religious groups and theories. In addition to the aforementioned influences, the music on this album has a rather theatrical character.

Damn, it’s absolutely wonderful when a band defies all fixed boxes, marks, style influences, and genres and fully embraces a homemade musical concoction. Without sacrificing any consistency, musical ability, or quality songwriting. Cult can indeed be considered a flamboyant album, but one that’s solidly crafted, with various styles coming into play. From the intro Apostle’s Dogma to the final track Dogmatic Defilings, this is a very exciting album that is well put together. If I were to offer criticism, I could say that the musical line is very carefully worked out, which sometimes makes the album lack spontaneous-sounding moments. But truth be told, I’m not really interested in that, because the impact and overall sound are of a quite high standard.

Let me start with the vocals, which are razor-sharp in the mix. Three band members guarantee the vocal eruptions, ranging from a guttural roar, and black metal shrieks, to clear, not-too-anonymous chants. All are of a distinctive level and almost demand attention in the rather formidable instrumental environment. I’m particularly impressed by the somewhat grainy, furious scream, but the other two vocal styles mentioned earlier are equally remarkable. The theatrical influence mainly comes from classical influences, which may have been preprogrammed. I hear brass instruments, sound effects, and bells, among other things. The chopping guitar riffs sit nicely in the mix, with the bass occasionally, for example, during the closing track, making a satisfying appearance. Furthermore, the drummer of this mysteriously sounding ensemble plays a prominent role with a range of tempo changes, fills, and clever aggressiveness.

After the first listen, I immediately followed up with a second and a third… Sometimes I do this to assess whether the songs are growing on me or getting stuck in my head. More often than not, I choose to set aside an album and listen to it again later to form a judgment. I often do this when an album doesn’t immediately appeal to me, to confirm my feelings. But with Cult, I did it mainly because I just really wanted to listen to the seven tracks multiple times in a row, purely for my own enjoyment. And that’s certainly a good sign.

It’s therefore very difficult for me to highlight real highlights. The third track Shroud of Humanity is undoubtedly an incredibly strong track, starting with a very atmospheric vocal passage and then going in all directions with intense drumming. The intense scream subsequently unleashes whole stories upon you but also leaves plenty of room for the clear vocals, guitar melodies, keyboards, and everything else that comes into play. But it’s mainly the sum of the parts, with the excellent drumming making me salivate, that makes the difference. All elements and influences fit together like puzzle pieces. The extreme – and here added – Irreverence of the Cross with insanely fast blasts is another banger, where I feel my jaw drop, especially when the band makes room for an intense passage full of atmosphere and intricate guitar work. Then the Americans continue this track with melancholic, suspenseful guitar playing, multilayered vocals, and an overall epic atmosphere. Especially in a theatrical manner due to the underlying symphonic manifestation. However, Summoner’s Circle also provides plenty of playing tempo to blow the listener away. What variety and craftsmanship! During a track like Dogmatic Defilings, the underlying clear vocals together with the growl appeal to me again. And so, each track has something special to offer.

A discovery like this Summoner’s Circle is one of the reasons why I’m not just a metalhead but also an editor at Zware Metalen. It’s a joy to be one of the first to listen to this and then form an opinion. This is the cream of the crop for adventurous death and black metal listeners.

Score:

91/100

Label:

Black Lion Records, 2024

Tracklisting:

  1. Apostle’s Dogma
  2. Cult of the Dead Son
  3. Shroud of Humanity
  4. Irreverence of the Cross
  5. Thirst of the Vulture
  6. Profit of Death
  7. Dogmatic Defilings

Line-up:

  • Blind – Vocals
  • Gog – Guitars
  • Omnus – Guitars
  • Y’takt – Bass, vocals
  • Nadir – Keyboards, vocals
  • Invictus – Drums

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