With bands like Ampütator, Teitanblood, and Beherit on the rise, 2009 continues to unleash death and destruction with filthy and threatening releases. The album we’re discussing today hails from the other side of the world—New Zealand, to be precise—but carries the unmistakable seal of approval from the Ross Bay Cult: Diocletian. After releasing one demo, one split, and two EPs, the band finally delivers their first full-length—and they push the limits of sonic hostility with immense effort. Let this be a fair warning to anyone whose idea of black metal includes PIMPeror, POSERicon, or narGAYroth: stay the hell away from this album!
Diocletian greets us with a feral and furious record—completely devoid of generic, banal European “buzzing” cult nonsense, Nordic melodies, or snowy birch forests. Instead, it offers brutal vocals, riffs that at times nod toward death metal, relentless drumming, bursts of maniacal solos, and a hellspawned production quality. With this approach, Diocletian more than earns the right to bear the ROSS BAY CULT label on its freight train of destruction.
From the very first second of its 33:28 runtime, the album plunges you into a nightmare ambiance steeped in sulfurous vapors. You can feel your flesh and soul burning in flames of an unnamable temperature—and the most twisted part is that you perversely enjoy it. Yes, this album is tailor-made for those who crave raw, nasty, and ominous old-school black metal. If I had to recommend specific tracks, I’d go with Heretic
and Bullet Vomited
, though the album’s impact increases dramatically when experienced in full from start to finish.
Pros: Malevolent riffs, insane drumming, great solos, and a terrifying warlike atmosphere
Cons: Vocals are slightly low in the mix
9.5/10