siLLy puPPy A staggering 36 years since its inception and more than a quarter century since the band’s proper debut “Into The Infernal Regions of the Ancient Cult,” the croaking Colombians known as INQUISITION have not only found a new landing spot in Seattle, USA but have been one of the most consistently original and evil as fuck bands to navigate the world of gnarly goat fueled Satanic black metal. Pretty much the mere duo of Dagon and Incubus, INQUISITION has a larger than life presence on the scene as well as a propensity for lengthy and ominous album titles. Keeping their release schedule of an album every three or four years, these guys follow their 2020 release “Black Mass For A Mass Grave” with the latest addition VENERATION OF MEDIEVAL MYSTICISM AND COSMOLOGICAL VIOLENCE.

Well, surprise, surprise! It’s another orotund black metal buzzsaw guitar chug-a-thon that showcases the band’s 9th album and continues the eerie stylistic approach that has kept these guys one of the most popular bands in the black metal universe. VENERATION stays true to the band’s classic style while continuing to evoke the majestic throne of Satan while navigating the themes of cosmology, metaphysical concepts and all things lurking in the shadows. Not one to detour to overtly into the world of experimentation, INQUISITION retains its classic sound of highly distorted guitars with no bassist as well as Dagon’s most distinct trademark of all, his creepy croaking vocal style which alone sets this band apart from any other. Add to that the idiosyncratic drumming style of Incubus that eschews any technical workouts or blastbeat frenzies but rather simply accents the main rhythm patterns.

Also INQUISITION continues its propensity of dishing out addictive hooky tracks that somehow torture simple melodic grooves into veritable black metal ugliness. What’s new this time around is indeed a bit more of a diverse approach with Dagon expanding his vocal style a bit. In addition to the low guttural rasps is a few moments of clean vocals although kept in a totally evil as fuck style. The track “Infinity Is The Aeon Of Satan” even showcases a backing choir that evokes a Christian ritual but twisted into an evil invocation of the adversary. And of course it wouldn’t be an INQUISITION album without some tribute to the nebulous concepts of some sort of cosmic mysticism and spiritual battles for the promised land where Satan himself rules supreme. In other words, it’s pretty much business as usual for INQUISITION but when business is good there’s no reason to change the merchandise!

For any long time follower of INQUISITION, VENERATION OF MEDIEVAL MYSTICISM AND COSMOLOGICAL VIOLENCE will serve as yet another chapter in this black metal act’s long and established canon. While an anomaly or two does arise in the course of the album’s 45 minute plus playing time, for the most part this is INQUISITION doing what it does best and that would be crafting an album’s worth of instantly likable tracks that never stray too far from the playbook but vary just enough in melodic developments, tempos and riffing styles that it keeps you tuned in for the wild ride. And best of all INQUISITION retains its dynamic individual stamp that is so very hard to retain in the ever increasing crowded world of black metal. In fact i still have not heard another band that sounds like this one. As it stands this release won’t win over any new fans based on its content but for those already in the astral cult, this one won’t disappoint as it delivers the same quality content that pretty much every album has for over 25 years now.