Review : CHURCH OF MISERY – “Houses of The Unholy”

Church of Misery - “Houses of The Unholy”
released July 7, 2009 on Rise Above Records

The third full length album of bluesy downtuned doom from this Japanese quartet is absolutely monstrous. Obviously inspired by the godfathers Black Sabbath, they actually manage a darker and more sinister sound, due largely to the fact that every song is themed around a serial killer (the one exception is their Sir Lord Baltimore cover, 5). They even include sound bites retelling the original accounts: some of the people themselves (2, 3), some of officials (also 3, 4, 6), and some which sound reconstructed (1, 7).

The low end is well-filled, from the gruff, throaty vocals reminiscent of Matt Pike (High on Fire) or Troy Sanders (Mastodon), to the thick-as-molasses bass oozing like magma beneath Earth’s surface. They really take a Crowbar to your skull on the centerpiece, “Bloodsucking Freak”, which works through movements that start slow, pause to breakdown, then shift to breakneck ‘til the conclusion. Their near-flawless pacing, syncopation and tone are undeniable.

Here’s to horns held high for this clear entry to the Best of 2009!

FCC OK.
Try *1*, 2, *3*, *4*, 6, 7

01. El Padrino (Adolfo De Jesus Constanzo)
02. Shotgun Boogie (James Oliver Huberty)
03. The Gray Man (Albert Fish)
04. Blood Sucking Freak (Richard Trenton Chase)
05. Master Heartache (Sir Lord Baltimore cover)
06. Born To Raise Hell (Richard Speck)
07. Badlands (Charles Starkweather & Caril Fugate)

Rating: