Customer Reviews

Goat of Mendes

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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BR>Background: Akercocke originate from London, England and were formed in early 1997 by friends David Grey and Jason Mendoca. Both had previously been in the underground black metal band "Salem Orchid", which disbanded several years earlier, and had a strong following in the underground in England. Akercocke seems to be getting a lot of press recently, partly because of the heavy Satanic imagery and partly because of their country of origin.
Packaging: The packaging is very professionally done. The lyrics to all songs are included as well as a video for the song "Infernal Rites". The artwork includes depictions of satanic worship and female nudity. The nudity does not appear gratuitous and the imagery is not "hokey" ala some of the Norwegian bands out there. I have read many criticisms of the video, and I guess I can see why. The "lip sinking" is not done very well and the whole video seems kind of contrived.
Production: "Goat of Mendes" was recorded, engineered and produced by Martin Bonsoir at Goat of Mendes studios. It was mastered by Noel at Transfermation. The line up includes Jason Mendonca, Paul Scanlan, Peter Theobalds, David Gray and Martin Bonsoir. Dean Seddon of Hecate Enthroned lends some vocals on the track "The Serpent". Additional guest musicians participate with violins, keyboards, cello, trumpet, sasz and the clarinet. The main force behind the band appears to be David Gray who writes all of the lyrics and wrote the band bio on their website. The production is definitely adequate on this recording. It has a dark, death metal type of feel to it and the overall sound kind of reminds me a little bit of older Morbid Angel. You can make out all of the instruments and the vocals are mixed very well.
The Music: I think the one word that best describes this music is "schizophrenic". This music is very diverse. The main focus is "old school" brutal death metal but you can also hear influences of black metal, grindcore and good old heavy metal at times. As with most extreme metal, the guitar is the major focus here, and it is very well done. The guitar parts are actually quite innovative, with brutal death metal riffs, fast black metal melodies and melancholic doomy parts being incorporated into the same song. What I really enjoy is the use of non-traditional metal instrumentation (rustic horns, violins, even Latin chants) along with the many transitions in the songs. Most of the songs are quite lengthy and are broken up by very weird interludes. A few of the interludes remind me of a soundtrack to a Stanley Kubrick film. Actually, listening to this recording kind of gives me the same feeling as watching "A Clockwork Orange". Beneath all of this bizarreness is an underlying black metal sensibility, which actually makes the music quite enjoyable. As with everything else on this recording, the vocals are also very diverse. Most prominent is a mix of brutal deep death metal grunts and screechy black metal vocals, occasionally interspersed with melancholic clean and female vocals. I typically don't like the use of female vocals, but these are used very well, similar in a way to how Cradle of Filth uses them. Imagine the brutality and production qualities of Nile mixed with the melody of a black metal band like Cradle of Filth.
Recommendation: I really enjoyed this release and think I will be listening to it well into the future. I also am going to do everything I can to find the previous release from this band as well. Once again, this is not for the faint of heart as this music is very aggressive and even brutal at times. Highly recommended.

I must admit (rather embarrasingly) that I did not know who Akercocke were when I picked up this album. A friend of mine informed that they had been really hyped, something that I somehow managed to miss. So on to the music then.

At times, this reminds me of old Mayhem. Tortured, rasping screams on top of blasting drums and frantic guitars. At other times it reminds me of Immolation, Sadistik Exekution...but still with an air of freshness to it.

Being a black metal fan, as well as a CD-reviewer for a Swedish fanzine, I'm always overjoyed when I find something I like; something original. And this is original. Akercocke couldn't care less what you think of their music - or at least that's the feeling I get. If they want a female choir they use a female choir. If the want a cello, they use a cello, etc. If you want original, hateful, agressive black metal, then you want Akercocke.

Draw a circle on the floor and sit in it. Conjure a mixture of the vocal stylings of Cradle Of Filth with the songwriting style of King Diamond and Venom and throw in some interesting instruments other than guitars and keyboards and you have a very heavy black metal album from the UK and not Norway for a change. Akercocke sound a lot like other black metal bands but their packaging is different as well as their wardrobe. A cool booklet with the lyrics is packed with some unique photos. Grab your favorite virgin and sit under a full moon and hail the Goat! (Be sure to wear your Sunday best.)

Finally you are near to get one of the darkest releases of all the history...so don't think it more! buy it now!
This is the CD that deserves my first look when I see to my shelf. A great purchase that worths the money without any doubt.
The band Akercocke is known for wear suites, and for have one of the fastest drummers of the world, David Gray, who also writes their lyrics. This brutal industrial satanic black/death metal (what a name...), makes a sonic assault of brutality and Goat invoking anthems for all who wander in the abyss as me and you.
The album's artwork is all in black and white and is full of Black Mass' imagery, and the CD is compossed by 12 tracks (or 13 if you get the digipack version as myself, and then you have the last track, the stunning video for Infernal Rites...a video full of Black Mass imagery and woman nudity...and one of the bests I seen in my life). Here is a little description of each song.
Enjoy:
1-Of Menstrual Blood And Semen: the first track attacks with grunts and screechs that transports you to the world of Akercocke. Great guitar solos by Jason Mendonca and Paul Scanlan.
You also can hear women having orgasms...simply great.
2-A Skin For Dancing In: this one adds melodic vocals like they were(satanic)nuns invoking The Dark One. Great riffs again and amazing drum beatings. "Sister Cunegonde...Novitiate veiled in black...."
3-Betwixt Iniquitatis And Prostigiators: this is the first instrumental of the album. And in it you can hear rustic horns (this shows how original are Akercocke)and even sasz's melodies played by Jason, the frontman.
4-The Horns Of Baphomet: here you will find more "like satanic nun's" invoking words, and spectacular guitar riffs...hear the drums and amaze yourself how f*cking great is Dave!
"Baphomet...I am hostage to your pressence"...
5-Mask Of God: yeah, one of the most dark lyrics I read in all my life. True blasting blasphemic track. You'll love it really much.
6-The Serpent: in here you can hear the voice of the vocalist of Hecate Enthroned...this says you did well to buy that masterpiece of Dark Invoking.
7-Fortune My Foe: this is the second instrumental, in the line of the first one. It's good, believe me, more beautiful melodies.
8-Infernal Rites: black metal screechs and low grunts of brutal death metal at the same time, as in all the tracks. This song is the chosen for the videoclip...and it's a great chose...Sure.
9-He Is risen: the track of Lucifer, without any doubt. The vocals in here are as haunting as blasphemic. A track that nobody can loses.
10-Breaking Silence: the lyrics of this song talk about the nuns confined in cloisters, supposedly "pure", but with lust desires that break the oath of silence in which they are. I must say: David, write more songs like that.
The track finishes with melodic vocals, done by the frontman Jason Mendonca, who knows how to sing in a band like this.
11-Initiation: the third instrumental, also full of melodies and instruments not usually in that genre, like the rustic horns I named before. A good song to finish the album?...no. It's not finished...
12-Ceremony Of Nine Angles: yes, this is the last and final track of the album.(why the people writes "nine angels"?? I think is obvious in the back cover it says "nine angles"!)
Well, the track, the longest of the CD, surely is the most appropiate to close this masterpiece of Satanic Metal. Great guitar solos, astonishing drum beats, inhuman grunts and infernal screams...anything more to say?...yes:
BUY IT IF YOU CALL YOURSELF AN EXTREME MUSIC'S FAN!!!
Nobody shouldn't miss this album. This is the album I never would give or sell to NOBODY...before it I'd rather be killed than lose this jewel!
I can't talk about favorites, cuz there is no one bad song in it. But, maybe Of Menstrual Blood And Semen, The Horns Of Baphomet,Infernal Rites,Breaking Silence or Ceremony Of Nine Angles.
In conclusion, buy it, man. Don't think it more. Buy it (if you can get the digipack version, buy it, and you'll have one true dark video, Infernal Rites) Anyway, even without video, this gem is calling you. Can you hear its calling? BUY IT NOW!
And if you want buy it here with Choronzon. Hail Black Metal!!!

this a pretty insanely awesome slab of blasphemic death metal with a high dose of black metal kinmanship. first off all, the music: it's fast, blazing fast! with lots of blastbeats and furious guitar solos! the band members display an impressive style and the songwriting and composition are head and shoulders above your average death metal recording. This is especially evident in the varied tempos that are found within The Goat Of Mendes. overall...it's fast...fast fast fast..but plenty of creativity and thought seems to have gone into these fast parts and there are plenty of slowed down parts to allow the songs to grow and breathe.

Akercocke's sound seems to be a nod in the direction of 80's thrash here and there (most notably the sounds of Carnivore and Bolt Thrower to these ears)...although they don't fully divulge into that kind of riff-o-rama, it sounds like they at least grew up on a steady diet of thrash. the production also seems to carry with it a certain kind of bone-dry sound that only help to elevate the listening experience. while alot of death metal and (especially) black metal bands seem to want to swab their songs with gallons of murky reverb and atmospherics, Akercocke seems more intent on letting that dry production have it's own unique effect (much like Reign In Blood did years ago). The vocals are really great on this record. demonic screams, low end belchy stuff, horrifying shrieks, and eerie whispers. there's even some chanting that creeps in over the fog.

the album cover and inner booklet are both well designed and carry a stark black and white feel throughout. photos, mystic symbols and well-written lyrics devoted to the satanic faith are all included inside. at the end of the day, The Goat Of Mendes is sure to fuel your fix for great blackened metal and old fashioned satanism!

Akercocke was well known before, as the Disciples of Belial, at least from Jason Mendonca's old references, and then David Grey and Jason went on to making Salem Orchid. They both are the English Undergrounds best, they even change the Leather and Spikes look of Black Metal, by wearing Formal Attire. I think it is a cool message they are sending, and Goat of Mendes is the best album thus far, even tho there last album was given lots of props, I think that GoM is the best and there is no way to desuade me. Not even ride on a BMW lighter (if you don't get this, you need to watch more Strongbad :P)... Yes it has feeling of King Diamond, but we must remember, King Diamond, although INFLUENCED Black Metal, was not true Black Metal! We must remember that Hellhammer/Celtic Frost, Bathory and the old Guard were the True Black Metal heads of the 80s, Mercyful Fate was nothing more then good entertainment, with lots of Satanic Imagery used in in Black Metal today... But as for the vokills, there are none in Mercyful Fate... I think this band (Akercocke) uses alot of old skool Black Metal and Death Metal feel, like Belphegor and Acheron. Yes some of the vokills are like Cradle of Frogs (yuck, whoever calls them BM, needs to be strangled!), but also like Grindcore growling. Well I said my peace and basically said what everyone and there brother has heard of Black Metal and the tenants therein. Hail Satan and Shemhamforash