Slow, brooding dirges of misanthropy - some have called Alastis black doom and some have compared them with Samael. In both instances, I would say that they are correct. These songs have nothing to do with the hippyish ways of doom bands like latter day St. Vitus and Cathedral. But like some doom bands, Alastis squeezes every last drop of anguished rhythm out of their dark chord choices - creating slow, drawn out compositions that fill one with a sense of peaceful awareness of their own doom. All the while, Alastis rails against the church using scenes of Christianity's own hypocrisy and the idiocy of its flock. Fair comparisons can be made to "Blood Ritual"-era Samael, because truthfully, they do sound similar. Samael had a clearer production for their effort, but to me, both ooze an equal amount of blackness.

© 2000 j. mcintyre