Just as I was wondering which album to tackle as a classic this dropped through the letterbox. Times might have changed since it originally came out in 1993, for one thing it was in one of these newish super jewel boxes and on putting my thumb through the corner hole to open it a bit of jagged plastic went straight into my thumb and drew blood. I took it as a warning that this is still as potent as it was 16 years ago and the werewolf had claimed another victim and was having a good laugh at my expense.
Historically in 1993, black metal was all about one place; Norway. Emperor and Enslaved had released their legendary split, Mayhem were Live In Leipzig and soon to unveil the masterful ‘De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas,’ Burzum were blazing away with ‘Aske’ and ‘Det Som Engang Var’ and Immortal were unleashing ‘Pure Holocaust.’ The rest of the world were taking notes as churches burned but musically were not yet catching up. The rest of Scandinavia were emerging however and Marduk had already fucked Jesus in Sweden and in Finland stranger darker kvlts were starting to get prolific, none more than Nuclear Terrorists Impaled Nazarene and Beherit. In fact a ‘dark war’ was declared between the two fanatical factions partly by perhaps misunderstood jokes by ImpNaz Mika Luttinen having stated ‘no orders from Norway accepted’ on debut album ‘Tol Cormpt Norz Norz Norz.’ This was not something that those in Norway found funny and death threats were quickly administered.
Beherit started their foul rise in 1989 when the band were formed by Nuclear Holocausto, Black Jesus and Sadomatic Slaughter. Debut album ‘Oath Of The Black Blood’ was actually a collection made up from the groups first two demos ‘Demonomancy’ and ‘Dawn Of Satan’s Millennium’ Many will with this in mind look upon ‘Drawing Down The Moon’ as the trios only real album. After it Nuclear H released two more albums of dark ambient music and although using the bands name these are not considered true releases. Of course their return this year with ‘Engram’ sees the band going back to their roots as well as presenting the perfect time to re-evaluate their kvlt classic.
It is an odd album, Beherit were all about embracing the primitive side of things, the raw, the feral and the bestial, indeed the term bestial black metal which is so commonly used these days basically stems from them. ‘Drawing Down The Moon’ does however have a cold and calculated electronic vibe about it, one that is dark sinister and incredibly atmospheric.
‘Intro (Tireheb)’ highlights this and has a demonic and Satanic voice before ‘Salomon’s Gate’ ploughs in with what can only be described as muddy swamped drum sound and a slow and sludgy feel to it. There are guitar solos and chords that remind of Celtic Frost at their most primitive and the vocals go from eerie evil whispers to blood drenched rasps. Keyboards are also there and the whole thing sounds like a Satanic ritual gone wrong once the alcohol and drugs have kicked in. Indeed the Wiccan ritual that the album takes its name from sees the priestess invoking the spirit of the Goddess and sending her into a trancelike and meditative state but who knows what this ghastly trio have summoned up here. The album obviously inspired many to follow in its footsteps, a favourite that I would particularly liken to it is Nastrond 1996 release ‘Age Of Fire.’
Numbers such as ‘Sadomatic Rites’ are gnarly and full of thick bass and monotonous riffs with vocals spitting and spewing over the top of the blackened doom like sound. Something burns on ‘Black Arts’ and an unholy voice can be heard before the thick sound of the instruments comes at you, crawling in a morass as it rises from dark, deep depths. I particularly love ‘The Gate Of Nanna’ it is possibly because it has more of a melody and the vocals are higher in the mix here, it also does have one hell of an evil vibe about it as it mixes ritualistic fervour to a sound that really feels like it could cause the gates of hell to be flung wide open.
‘Down There’ is positively scary, the rasp at the beginning could make the unwary jump and the vocals are (well) bestial in the extreme. I would kind of like the drums to be louder but it works I guess and would certainly be ruined if the group had decided to commit the ultimate blasphemy of re-recording this! ‘Summerlands’ a mysterious arcane number with a million questions behind it, the Goth in me cannot help thinking of one of my favourite Nephilim songs Summerland which possibly took inspiration and gained some sort of illumination from this?! Of course we also have the fantastically entitled ‘Werewolf Semen And Blood’ no doubt inspiration for thousands of kvlts to pick up instruments in far flung places like Peru and create an ungodly racket.
‘Drawing Down The Moon’ may only be 39 minutes long but it is an album that has inspired many. Having said that it is also one that has no doubt appalled many who have heard of it in passing and gone to check it out hoping to jump on a bandwagon. One thing is certain, it is not an album for poseurs and trendy fucks, you are encouraged to leave the hall!
The eccentricity and sheer sinister feeling that this exudes, seeping from every pore of this work means that listening to it again 16 years after it was spawned, it still remarkably stands the test of time. Rare and unique and equally baffling, sure it is not perhaps the masterpiece that some say it is but nobody should question the place of ‘Drawing Down The Moon’ in the pantheon of all time classic albums. So if you have never heard it, go seek out and listen, there is no middle ground and you will either thank or curse me for it, as for Beherit, I doubt they give a fuck!
