This is the debut album by French band Ecclesia, and it is hard to really know where to start with it. Although they are inspired by doom, this is only a starting point which they have then moved away from into an area which for the most part is mostly power metal, yet there are also elements of symphonic as well as stoner. The cover art is simply incredible, while their lyrical themes deal with the 12th Century dark medieval age of Holy Inquisition. Of course this means we some lyrics in Latin, while the band have given themselves suitable names and the line-up is Frater Arnhwald (vocals), Julius Accusator (lead guitar), The Witchfinder General (rhythm guitar), Frater Ignis Sacer (bass), Pater Hexenhammer (drums), and Pater Walkelinus (organ). We also get a clip of a horror movie which features the words of Vincent Price, and we are definitely thrown into the Gothic and strange.

But instead of all this clashing together and becoming an overblow cartoon, instead we have an album which is incredibly polished and vibrant. The use of a Church-style organ sound has a real impact, while the vocals are clear and clean (in English for the most part), the rhythm section is locked down while the guitars keep it tight, sometimes crunching riffs and others doing their nest impression of Murray and Smith. If I were to pick a couple of bands as influences, then it would be Candlemass and Cathedral but heading way more into the mainstream than either of those bands. It is an incredibly easy album to listen to, and although they commit the cardinal sin of fading out Antichristus as they have not worked out how to properly finish it, I am almost willing to look past it. The riffs chug along, and while the music is never nearly as menacing as they probably would want, and all the harshest rough edges have been smoothed out, this is still something which shows promise and is a name to look out for.

Rating: 7/10

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/ecclesia.official/
https://www.auralmusic.com/