Catholicon - Treatise on the Abyss CD Review

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2007-06-24 : MIKE(drums for Catholicon) : Link
reviewed by gwen from violent solutions webzine (france)
http://www.vs-webzine.com/
CATHOLICON – Treatise On The Abyss – (Negativity Recs) 18.5/20

"Treatise On The Abyss" has not been released yet, so you'll have to wait a little more, but you know "no pain, no gain". This fantastic Brutal Black / Brutal Death Metal band strikes back with –what I call- a masterpiece of bestiality. CATHOLICON goes beyond the realm of mere brutality. That brand-new album is amazingly powerful, and one thing is certain, this album will quench your thirst for extreme music! The spearhead of US Brutal Black/ Death will tear your soul to pieces. Are you ready to acclaim "Treatise On The Abyss"?

CATHOLICON rises from Louisiana's darkest swamps to unleash the most atrociously delicious album ever heard, an outburst of hatred, a storm of blasphemous fury, the epitome of brutality. Two years have passed since "The Death Throes Of Christianity", during that period, CATHOLICON skillfully sharpened its own original style which take the best from Death Metal and Black Metal. That perfect alliance is the ultimate weapon CATHOLICON uses to eradicate the reign of god. One by one, temples, churches and mosques will collapse and suffer unto that violent, fierce and ravaging piece of Art.

On that new album, the Black Metal touch fades away and leaves some room for a strong Death Metal aspect. IMMOLATION, INCANTATION and SADISTIC EXECUTION put their mark on CATHOLICON. This band could be considered as a Death Metal band, but that would be simplistic. CATHOLICON is more than that, it's more than anything else!

Thirteen tracks appear on "Treatise On The Abyss", thirteen hellish songs that will send you straight to an eerie world, hysterical, boundless, timeless… godless. That band possesses a pretty frightening and repugnant aspect. That pitch-dark moist touch grants the whole album a weird atmosphere. Something despicable, unspeakable, something you feel… words are not enough. CATHOLICON combines talent, intelligence and class. What else could you ask for? No mercy, only fury and rage, that's a pure fucking masterpiece!

INRI and Blapshyre foretold that "Treatise On The Abyss" would be better than "The Death Throes Of Christianity", and holy shit: that's true! Imagine a perfect mix between the suffocating unholiness of IMMOLATION's "Close To A World Below", the apocalyptic feeling of INCANTATION's "Diabolical Conquest", the violence of BELPHEGOR's debut albums and ADORIOR's harshness…Add some slight keyboards à la REIGN OF EREBUS and you'll see what "Treatise On The Abyss" is about.

I bet some of you might be skeptical, with CATHOLICON; the word "keyboard" does not mean cheesy "vampirical" shit…NO WAY! Those keyboards parts enhance the chaotic brutality that prevails along the 47 minutes of this killer album. Bestial blast beats, soul tormenting vokills and technical riffs… prepare to die! From time to time, you'll find some peaceful parts, some Thrashy riffs close to ANGELCORPSE pop up now and then… (did I say "peaceful"?)

The vocals go from inhuman hi-pitched shrieks to INTERNAL SUFFERING-like ultra guttural grunts, as you can see CATHOLICON blends the best of best Brutal Metal! Their music is much too complex and grand to be trapped under one category. This album has to be felt, heard and praised! You must get this Cd now! An excellent album that will bewitch all Brutal Metalheads!

BUY OR DIE! BUY AND DIE! BUY OR DIE! BUY AND DIE! BUY OR DIE! BUY AND DIE!
Amen ite missa est


from blabbermouth.net

Catholicon
treatise on the abyss
(negativity records)

Billed as the "Satanic elite of Louisiana," Baton Rouge's CATHOLICON have been leaving paths of scorched earth since 1994. "Treatise on the Abyss" is the band's third full-length album and follow up to the whirlwind of lost souls that is "The Death Throes of Christianity". Those yet to discover CATHOLICON's unique brand of calamitous black/death metal should realize that a journey through one of the band's merciless musical assaults is treacherous and potentially nerve damaging. "Treatise on the Abyss" continues the trend, albeit in a more focused way arrangement-wise and with a better production.

Musically, while the occasional dark melody can be heard beneath the rubble and the use of a crushing groove riff gives the listener a brief respite periodically, most of the time you'll feel as though you are in the eye of the hurricane. Swirling riffs and lethal explosions of schizoid drumming rarely allow one time to achieve any sort of balance, and yet the more you listen the more willing you are to crawl back into the inferno. Keyboards/synths, courtesy of main man Blasphyre, are heard throughout and add a tremendous amount of nefarious atmosphere. Songs like "Enemies of the Faith" speed along like a perpetual car crash, only to deceive the unknowing into believing that one particularly sick groove will last long enough for you to catch a breath; it won't. Mixing it up nicely, "Battle Hymn 666" is chock full of cool parts, including grooving jams, and the kind of slow and evil plods that gives you the unsettling feeling that what's coming next won't be pretty. All the while vocalist I.N.R.I. shrieks and spits venom like a man possessed; his delivery is quite like anyone I've ever heard in the black and death metal genres.

"Treatise on the Abyss" is surely not for everyone, as CATHOLICON will likely agree. The intention is to destroy all that is holy and leave the listener in a permanent state of disorientation. Assuming you can stomach the twists, turns, and unapologetic malevolence of the beast, "Treatise on the Abyss" should provide you with a musical experience unlike any you've experienced. Lose yourself in this one and hope for the best. You won't come away whistling a happy tune.


- Scott Alisoglu



from sounds of death magazine issue #25

CATHOLICON

Treatise on the Abyss

Negativity Records

9 Skulls

With their over-the-top hatred of Christianity and all of its trappings,

these guys make Deicide sound like a church choir on their latest

soul-damning release, Treatise on the Abyss. Pig-squealing vocals, blasting

drum work, churning guitar passages and blasphemic lyrics from the very

bowels of Hell make this a “must-have” for fans of eternal pain. Catholicon

manage to create a truly menacing and unique sound within the

ever-restrictive confines of the Black/Death Metal genre. Tracks like

“Legion of One”, “Battle Hymn 666” and “God of the Cross” are guaranteed to

blow the roof off your house and spread the gospel of the unclean across

this cursed earth. (DH)

Dave Horn



from http://www.metalteamuk.net/

Artist: Catholicon
Title: Treatise On The Abyss
Type: Album
Label: Negativity

Although on a complete tangent Baton Rouge is a place that always sounded somewhat mystical to me, probably mainly due to tripping out to KLF album ‘Chill Out’ and the ambient strains of ‘The Lights Of Baton Rouge Pass By.’ Such illusions are rapidly put to pasture by new album from Catholicon, this Louisiana horde are not chilled out in the slightest let me assure you, their is something very nasty in these here swamps. Actually Baton Rouge probably isn’t such a picturesque place at all but described as “a major industrial, petrochemical and port centre of the American South,” and one that since Hurricane Katrina swept into the area has become much more heavily populated. It is also perhaps a place for preaching of religious judgements, the hand of God could so easily have rendered the area back to the Mississippi. Catholicon strike me as the reaction, the hatred and contempt at religion. They even formed when 2 members of the band met “while protesting the evangelist Bob Larson at Comite Baptist Church in Baton Rouge.”

Musically this is not quite so clear cut USBM like I was really expecting, there are strong death metal elements within Catholicon’s sound. One thing that is quickly evident is just how downright savage and bestial the assault they provide actually is. There is little room for breathing space either as one track literally forges into another; gaps between numbers are not part of this unholy doctrine.

‘Immaculate Deception’ aptly builds like a hurricane about to strike, ploughs in and flattens. Even though you won’t decipher without the lyrics in the booklet, a lot of thought has gone into them. This is a well thought out attack on religion and they certainly make an interesting read. Singer I.N.R.I. (that’s I’m Nailed Right In) has an interesting tone about his delivery, lower in the mix than they could be, but full of hate and threatening to rise and bite. For some reason they remind me of a BM industrialised squall mixed along with a say Prostitute Disfigurement sounding gore grind gravity. Synths are utilised here and are at times austere and atmospheric but certainly not overbearing or pompous.

‘The Curse Of Hatred Runs’ has lurking symphonic tendencies coursing through its wild tumult although the disharmonic assault is battened down by some meaty blast beats and irreligious guitar flurries. Finally a roll of militaristic drumming heralds slight calm at end of ‘Legion Of One’ but it is quick to somewhat majestically flow into ‘Enemies Of The Faith’ and baton down the hatches with feudal war like swipes. At times this sounds abjectly feral, think this is mainly due to the pillaging musical anger of the instrumentation and the sharp barking vocals working in harmony together. At others there is a sparkling sheen lurking away and the keyboards do have a very British early CoF / Hecate Enthroned vibe about them which works well with everything else going on.

There is actually a pause and 3 extra tracks separated from the main work. Not entirely sure if they are earlier numbers or just a plain horns up bonus. ‘The Sacrifice’ really sticks out being a keyboard instrumental, sounding designed for an album intro and heavily reminiscent of Christopher Young’s Hellraiser score.

All in all some excellent extremity is on display here and my one annoyance is that for some reason yet to be disclosed Catholicon didn’t make it over here to give us a taste of this at the recent Infernal Damnation festival. That aside if you still are unsure on religious beliefs click on the link below.

http://www.fuckyourgod.com/
http://www.negativityrecords.com/

Pete Woods

from http://www.horroryearbook.com/
Catholocon - Treatise on the Abyss (Music Review)
Published by wil May 10th, 2007 in MUSIC REVIEWS by Shane.
Back around 1998 I reviewed the debut album from this band. It was a rather interesting album entitled Lost Chronicles of the War in Heaven.” For the time, they displayed a pretty typical style of black metal but a touch more bassludge and a slight doom influence permeated the album and made it stand out. Over the years the band has fought through lineup changes, labels dropping the ball, and even a breakup for a time.

The band is back and now presents a new album via Negativity Records entitled “Treatise on the Abyss.” Catholicon was formed on April 9th 1994, by Blasphyre and Troy Thomas, who met while protesting the evangelist Bob Larson at Comite Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In mid 1994, the debut demo, entitled “Children of the Lost Generation” was released and quickly spread throughout the underground. The aformentioned “Lost Chronicle…” was released a few years later.


Fast forward ten years and it brings us to the latest album “Treatise on the Abyss.” 13 tracks of Black Metal with a healthy dose of Death Metal, and even Grind in the mix to make it a blistering offering of the head spinning variety. The first thing that stands out on this disc is the brutal, bass heavy production. Thick slabs of riffs and snare pierce your ears while the everchanging tempos and structures keep you off balance…never sure where these deranged satanic heathens will take you next. From dirge marches to grindcorelike blasting, its all here.

The biggest change/improvement this band has made over the years is the vocal performance of I.N.R.I. His strong command of the underground art is all over the place. From piercing shrieks of nekrofukk, LOW gurglevomit belches, and even pig-squeals more associated with goregrind, this crazy person touches on all those styles quite solidly and really keeps the songs exciting. Also of note is the undercurrent of synths that ride beneath the surface for much of the album. They never overpower though, and create a nice atmosphere much like that of an evil forest lurking in the distance…in the winter.

Lyric-wise, every song dissects and lays on the table the fantasies/beliefs of christianity and organized religion in general. Very very interesting and thought provoking to say the least as you read through the 16 page booklet. I was noticing also that a wooden case version of this album is available. That would be neat, but the label just sent me the regular jewel case version. You cheap bastards!

myspace.com/catholicon
fuckyourgod.com
negativityrecords.com


from www.thebleakhorizon.com
Catholicon
Treatise On The Abyss
Negativity, 2006

Acerbic pulverization in intensified darkness, Louisiana’s Catholicon execute a grinding black/death metal hybrid with violent power. Riffs blaze and churn in discomposed repetition, as barbarous rhythms refuse commitment to previously established themes. Blasting fury of music fueled by hysteria of cutthroat rage aimed at the affliction of a world lost to illusion. Conceptually centered on the diachronic fabrications of Christianity, lyrics are highly descriptive and reasonably considered, and their expression in the seared throat of frenzied screams annihilates denial of conviction.

Songs storm in blasting fury, occasionally slowing as if to refuel for the next accelerated onslaught. These slower sections contain the band’s mightiest element, in the apocalyptic revelation of triumphant satanic resplendence, significantly enhanced by riff-shadowing synths of revelatory atmosphere. Morbid Angel’s highly-revered "Immortal Rites" comes to mind during these moments, not in that they match the quality of performance, but in the ceremonial ambience conjured. The belligerent guitars and croaking vocals form the primary swell of angry emotion in this music, common to the musical styles in which this band operate, yet here threatens to overwhelm the technical elements of music in a violent storm of overflowing hatred. Dangerous in most instances, in the case of Catholicon it works to elevate the appeal.

"Life after death is just an illusion
An empty promise for this life
filled with pain and suffering
with no absolution"

Compositional coherence is disrupted frequently through the attack of maniacal expression, as detail suffers at the force of unrestrained passion. Again, not a negative in this case, as the band’s spirit is convincing enough to envelope the listener, though potentially noxious limitations on sophistication are evident. In the instants when everything clicks the music reaches its highest level of effectiveness. Threatening to disassemble into chaos, the musical elements frequently diverge before merging together for brief sections of clarity until chaos again seduces.


Production is suitably raw and organic, presenting a sound imbrued in the natural effects of instruments. Drumming is relentless and muscular, supplying the assault with an essential command of authoritative character, maintaining an unstoppable rhythmic strength over which declarative riffs swarm in tortured dissonance. Theory of both black and death metal are in operation here, with a conceptual alliance and atmospheric tendency toward the black, and a rhythmic and compositional technique commonly associated with death, but Catholicon swear no particular allegiance to either side. The personality of the vocals, in the crazed delivery of high-end screeches, can be identified in many spazzcore screamers, and the character of the drumming is not entirely dissimilar from grind standards. This hybridization manages to function devoid of the irritating forced quality often discovered on many releases that attempt to merge various styles. It doesn’t come across so concentrated on Treatise Of The Abyss, allowing for less attention spent on separate sub-genre elements, and more invested in the work as a whole.

"The need for God, where did it begin?
A lie passed down, just as old as sin
What do I see? A waste of life
A mindless, vigilant glare towards holy light"

What this music lacks in harmonic value, dynamics, and compositional individuality, it makes up for in savagery, which drives its rhythmic violence that in turn provides a sustainable foundation upon which riff patterns can formulate and extend in the security of a backdrop of power. Musical chemistry should develop further on future efforts, along with a more pronounced sense of identity. Swirling through this murderous madness is a spirit screaming to be properly recognized, and Catholicon would do well to listen closer to its cries, as their craft, fired as it is with primal passion and blunt force, stands to gain increased might through channeling and harnessing this spirit’s secret.

5/6/07