Their loyalty to anti-Christianity is the only law they follow! These sinful children, who have breathed the air of Kansas City and Tampa, Florida, once again summon the armies of Satan from hell and issue the command for war. After long silence except for a live album, these blasphemous sons finally returned last year with Of Lucifer And Lightning, and it’s no exaggeration to say they continue to tear through not only the Death Metal world but the entire Extreme music scene. After all, they’ve always been Morbid Angel worshippers—and still are. While Angelcorpse’s comeback wasn’t flawless when compared to their older records, their music and concept still roar that they keep delivering Lucifer’s voice in a wild, deadly, and destructive way. But if you expect a masterpiece like The Inexorable, you might be disappointed.
So what exactly falls short compared to Angelcorpse’s classics? First, the absence of Helmkamp’s easily distinguishable, burning vocal style. Second, the lack of that trademark Angelcorpse guitar sound—the signature tone that’s a core part of their identity.
Let me talk a bit about their Morbid Angel influence mentioned above; it’s always been prominent in their music and clearly evident here too. For example, the guitars are very telling—they’ve adopted Morbid Angel’s early low-tuned, muddy, almost ghostly guitar sound as their own path, and rightly so. From the crazily complex guitar solos to the hammer-like drumming, you feel it all; the song structures confirm this. You might wonder if they’ve truly embraced Azagthoth—listen to the album and decide for yourself.
However, as noted, while the vocals fit the music in harmony, they come across as somewhat weak. Still, Helmkamp uses his vocal power well, and because the band leans toward Black Metal, his harsh vocals carry that polished, devilish Black Metal edge. Don’t think I’m done with vocals here—there’s some variability too. Longstreth may not deliver a perfect drum performance but skillfully utilizes his technical abilities. The drum and vocal duo—and even the bass—fail to shine primarily because they get buried beneath the guitars. If the instruments were clearer and more distinct, the production could have salvaged this issue somewhat.
The cover art says it all: a devil preparing to devour a Jesus with dragons sprouting behind his ears—how wicked, how utterly satanic instincts are stirred. Lightning storms assault the sky in the background. The lyrics are exactly what you’d expect—satanic through and through, with several tracks bearing Latin titles.
Tracklist:
Credo Decimatus
Antichrist Vanguard
Machinery Of The Cleansing
Hexensabbat
Extermination Sworn
Saints Of Blasphemy
Thrall
Shining One (Rex Luciferi)
Lustmord
The album trio—Pete Helmkamp, John Longstreth, and Gene Palubicki—are all highly skilled on their instruments, knowing exactly what to play. Longstreth is no longer in the lineup, replaced by Paul Collier on drums.
You can anticipate what comes next in their satanic brutal Death/Black metal massacre, though at times it tends to become a bit routine.
The 1:30-minute Credo Decimatus, half intro and half song, opens with slowly rising swirling guitars, continuing to smash heads with deep, ominous growls, prepping listeners for the hellish music to come. Antichrist Vanguard kicks off the assault, firing machine-gun riffs from start to finish—showcasing the band’s peak musicianship. Helmkamp’s vile growls and Black Metal-influenced vocals spread fear, while the lyrics salute the waiting armies of anti-religious warfare, proclaiming that loyalty to anti-Christianity is the only law. They wield anti-Christian weapons to destroy senseless ideologies, calling the armies to rise for war. What a satanic assault this track is!
Machinery of the Cleansing is one of my favorites, featuring fantastic transitions and really great “jınjınjın” guitar parts.
As each song tries to outdo the previous in appeal, Hexensabbat stands out with incredible perfection. The riffs burn hot, interspersed with a few short, ripping solos, and powerful tempo changes keep the music flowing smoothly—it’s one of the cleanest and most fluid tracks here.
With Extermination Sworn, they slow down a bit, creating a more structural yet inconsistent track whose end feels uncertain. Saints Of Blasphemy is another example of brutality: relentless blasts, growling vocals smeared across every moment, and flashy solos, pushing blasphemy beyond limits. The lyrics include some “gore” touches as well. The guitars buzz like saws, as in Thrall, where the vocals maintain their venom and desire to spread evil. This track might get a bit boring for some, but its highlight is the long ornate solo starting near the end and backing the closing. The lyrics are extremely sickening.
In summary, the anti-Christian sentinels continue their path as one of America’s most respected and blasphemous Death Metal bands without deviating. Following in the footsteps of Morbid Angel and Deicide, Angelcorpse is also a must-listen for Black Metal fans.