17th July 2023

Review: “Petsuchos” by Cult of Sobek

Taking influence from Grandmasters in the likes of Goblinsmoker and Electric Wizard, Edinburgh based Cult of Sobek emerged from subterranean swamps at the end of a great plague, to bask in the sunshine and create alchemy. Inspired by the occult and in particular the writings of Crowley and the religion of Thelema, they have chosen to follow a well trodden path as a Doom Metal trio looking to place their own spin on a genre that is currently enjoying something of a renascence. Recorded and mixed by Tommy Duffin at 16 Ohm Studios Glasgow (Headless Kross, Coffin Mulch) their debut EP “Petsuchos” awaits…

Twenty three minutes of Crocodile God worshipping Doom Metal begins in earnest with title track “Petsuchos“, its extended instrumentals providing monolithic trance inducing psychedelia with warm fuzz laden riffs. Ethnic inspired leads add a vibrancy as the song builds to its inevitable conclusion but not before offering up ritualistic percussion deep catatonic bass lines that stir the soul and transport the mind into a state of spiritual nirvana. The melodies are rich and intricate as they escape the trappings of the earlier down tuned thunder, the only reminder that reality is in touching distance the death growled vocals that echo from the bloodstained walls of the beasts cave dwelling. Combining Death Metal vocals with Doom Metal riffs is nothing new but here in this dark, damp basement torture chamber hell “Lord of the Crocodiles” sounds as nightmarishly real as any monster you may come to meet on the journey down the left hand path. As punishing as nails on a chalk board, Cult of Sobek feel like the bastard child of Conan and Penny Coffin, an infusing of poison, smoke and dread that stares into the abyss with a mystical glint in the eye. Thoughts of escape from the oppressive darkness and swirling atmospheres are futile as “Maneater” introduces a hint of Black n’ Roll riffage to accompany another throat splitting vocal performance. Sounding like it was recorded live from the floor with all the organic cohesion which that kind of performance brings, the dissonant final third reaches into the tar pit and pulls forth something that if left to rot could eventually mutate into some Jazz inspired Sludge Metal. Nasty, toxic and thoroughly captivating, this is the kind of hangover cure that the day after a night on the hard liquor demands [7.5/10]

Track Listing