Band:	Immolation
Album:	Unholy Cult
Style:	Death metal
Release date:	2002
A review by:	Herzebeth

Disc I [CD]

01. Of Martyrs And Men
02. Sinful Nature
03. Unholy Cult
04. Wolf Among The Flock
05. Reluctant Messiah
06. A Kingdom Divided
07. Rival The Eminent
08. Bring Them Down

Disc II [Limited Edition Bonus DVD 'Bringing Down The World']

01. Of Martyrs And Men [Live In Amsterdam]
02. Father You're Not A Father
03. Unholy Cult
04. A Kingdom Divided
05. Those Left Behind
06. Reluctant Messiah
07. Unpardonable Sin
08. Christ Cage
09. Bring Them Down
10. Sinful Nature [Live In Tilburg]
11. Into Everlasting Fire
12. Of Martyrs And Men [Live In Paris]
13. Father You're Not A Father
14. Unholy Cult
15. Into Everlasting Fire
16. Wolf Among The Flock
17. Bring Them Down
18. Of Martyrs And Men [Live In L.A.]
19. Sinful Nature
20. Father You're Not A Father
21. Unholy Cult
22. Furthest From The Truth
23. Dawn Of Possession
24. Of Martyrs And Men [video Clip]

This must be the most blasphemous band in Death Metal scene, (followed by Incantation of course) Indeed is difficult to beat a masterpiece like "Close To A World Below" but Unholy Cult, believe me, it's also a great masterpiece.

I was at the record shop when I caught a glimpse of an album with an incredible cover artwork; it was a solitary ground with a gothic church that produced a satanic shadow, the cover is quite direct to what the album refers to in the lyrics and music, I didn't catch the band's name until I saw a tag that said "Immolation Latest Work", suddenly I was so excited, my blood rushed, my heart started beating fast, and I knew I had to buy that album in that precise moment; this happened more than a year ago, and when I see this cover in my record pile I still feel that incredible dash in my head.

This album is amazing, Immolation reached their most brutal climax, the songs are indeed unholy, and the lyrics?oh man the lyrics are beautiful, the album starts with "Of Martyrs And Men" the intro is slow and a little boring, but then a violent riff opens that song and everything begins to suit, the vocals are atrocious and aggressive (the most aggressive vocals I've heard in immolation history, there's no doubt Dolan is one of the best "screamers" out there) this song talks about well just read this dudes "?Ravaged by their words and into their open arms, like thieves they'll steal your mind and use it to control?Do you think you follow greatness, Do you think you follow the divine?" well we all know what Immolation is trying to say here, right?

Ok now the best track in this album, "Unholy Cult" this song is the greatest, the longest, the most brutal, the best of the best, the riffs are even catchy, and the drumming is just devastating, 8 minutes of ultra violent music, the best part is when Dolan screams "?THE COLOURS HAD FADED?EVERYTHING'S BLACK?" that part is breathtaking, this song is just incredible I won't say more. Another brilliant song is "Reluctant Messiah" with great bass-lines, and the best guitar execution in this album, of course with the great profane lyrics that wrap this album.

Well, enough has been said, I don't know which album I love the most, "Close To a World Below" or "Unholy Cult" but what I do know is that that last album is a blast, and we metalheads should own a copy of "Unholy Cult" in our CD collection, and we will be waiting with great expectations for "Harnessing Ruin" coming next year.