Sabbat

***"This is the tenth full-length release from Sabbat, the classic Japanese thrashing black metal band. Sabbat are one of those bands where every release is sterling. These guys’ shopping lists are probably more metal than 90% of everything else out there. When I make up my yearly best-of lists, they’re really more like 'the best of everything else that isn’t Sabbat', assuming that Sabbat put out a full-length album that year. Now that the requisite worshipful blather is out of the way, I can review Sabbat’s newest album. This one is a good deal better than Satanasword, which is surprising considering how great that one was. Sabbat’s songwriting is in full effect here. 'The Letter From Death' is my favorite Sabbat song since 'Den of Hades' from Karisma. The eerie, slow intro is just genius, and the concept, vocals, and music are all equally excellent. The other songs are nearly as good, too. 'The Answer Is Hell' is a ripping opener, and 'In League With Devils' has a catchy chorus and bass line that harks back to the early days of Sabbat. There are two versions of this album, each with different cover art, and one different song. I prefer the Iron Pegasus version, since I like 'Registry of Dark Side' a bit better than 'Plasmas Goat', but if you’re as rabid about Sabbat as I am, you’ll probably get both, anyway. There isn’t much more I can say about this one. If you have the money for just one album from the last few years, Karmagmassacre should be among the finalists. Highest recommendations”—vorfeed (Metal Archives, 2004).