Album Review: Whore Of Bethlehem – Ritual Of Homicide (Comatose Music)

Carl Fisher 2 min read

Returning from the darkness with their first full length album in six years come Austin, Texas’ Whore of Bethlehem. Ritual Of Homicide will be released on March 24th, 2023, via Comatose Music.

As blasphemous and wicked as always, Whore of Bethlehem are back and back with extremely threatening intent. The blackened brutality of their death metal is unleashed again, as though an ominous door in the deepest and darkest corner of hell has been reopened. The monstrosity that emerges features ten searing and dehumanising examples of heaviness.

However, this is not a repeat of Whore of Bethlehem’s classics even if it has all the garish and gnarly horror that fans have come to love. It’s a forward moving release with experimental tempo shifts and plenty of exciting twists and turns. Inspired and interesting aggressive death metal with a ton of varied ideas.

Yet, when it does come down to it, Ritual of Homicide is an absolute crushing release too. The meaty riffing, vast percussion, and guttural vocals deliver on the promise of head-banging intensity. Most will be left with aching necks by time the first third of the record is done. With the filth of the title track, in particular, standing out from the pack here.

The focus on savagery is well placed as the album continues to make you feel as though you’re being smashed over the head repeatedly. Yet, through all the punishment, you can pick out touches that really make tracks like Sermon of the Malignant Spirit, Out of Body, and Monolith of Cremation special. Although these are just three exceptionally ruthless moments on an album that is packed with them.

Welcome back, Whore of Bethlehem. We’ve missed you more than we realised!

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Whore of Bethlehem – Ritual of Homicide Track Listing:

1. Enlightenment Through Pain
2. Nails In Your Coffin
3. Ritual of Homicide
4. Vermin
5. Gateway
6. Sermon of the Malignant Spirit
7. Out of Body
8. Disembodied
9. Monolith of Cremation
10. Pseudochrist (Bonus Track)




Links

Website | Facebook | Comatose Music

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Whore Of Bethlehem - Ritual Of Homicide (Comatose Music)
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