Arkhamin Kirjasto – Undead Priest of Holy Trinity of Death

Artist: Arkhamin Kirjasto

Album: Undead Priest of Holy Trinity of Death

Label: Ektro Records

Genre: Lovecraftian Hard Rock & Death Metal

Release Date: July 18^th 2013

Undead Priest of Holy Trinity of Death is the 3^rd release by the Finnish band Arkhamin Kirjasto. If you are not familiar with these wizards of Lovecraftian hard rock and death metal, this short EP of 3 tracks is a bewitching introduction to the distorted universe of Arkhamin Kirjasto.

Recorded at the same time as their acclaimed full CD Torches Ablaze, the current EP is a very short appetizer to the work of Arkhamin Kirjasto, containing only 3 tracks or 9 minutes' worth of music in total.

The first track “Undead Priest of Holy Trinity of Death” is an unholy recital about a zombie priest evoking an undead horde. It contains chanting that is put in the back of the mix, which gives the music an estranging effect. Further in the track, we come across death metal growls, and the we explore the boundaries of death metal, stoner rock, psychedelia and candle-clad mysticism.

“The Nomad” revs up the speed of the recording for some old school thrash/death metal with a big gulp of Bay Area sound. The grunts are very understandable, and are almost in between grunting and talking. These vocals tell the story of a vicious revenant wanderer who slaughters everything he sees.

“Spellbound & Tortured” is the final track: a heavier, more abrupt and edgy track with less of a melodic line and overall less interesting in its musical merit. According to Arkhamin Kirjasto, it is a mangled vision from the eyes of a sadist wizard – but it does not really come across as such.

Arkhamin Kirjasto have a lot of potential, and as another offshoot of the New Wave of Finnish Heavy Metal around the band Circle, they are not to be missed by anyone interested in the Nordic underground.

Listen to the opening track of Undead Priest of Holy Trinity of Death on Soundcloud.

Buy Arkhamin Kirjasto – Undead Priest of Holy Trinity of Death through Ektro Records