Nefarious Dismal Orations

Inquisition - “Nefarious Dismal Orations” 2007

Inquisition
“Nefarious Dismal Orations”

Origin: Cali, Colombia / Seattle, Washington, USA

Genre: Black Metal

Label: No Colours Records

As we descend into the throes of Satanic darkness, the light of Lucifer is cast through the shadows to guide our way and it’s the voice of Inquisition that tracks the journey. The very greatest in my opinion and the heart & soul of Western black metal. From the unforgiving streets of Colombia to the gloomy majesty of the Pacific Northwest, the Inquisition spell can be felt as it emanates so dominantly over the international BM scene. Their established preeminence has been so since the very beginning. Inquisition’s first three albums - less dynamic and adventurous than their later works - the finest examples of black metal in its true form: Satanic, dreadful and unrefined. During that particular era, for Inquisition, the crafting of black metal was a matter of authenticity, as opposed to their more contemporary and exploratory cosmological records where the stretches of the imagination expanded into the primordial cosmos. In 2007, Inquisition would take their first steps onto the pathway of innovation with their fourth album, “Nefarious Dismal Orations”, released via No Colours Records.

With “Nefarious Dismal Orations”, Inquisition begin to elaborate their style into something more melodic, more dynamic and noticeably more intricate with complex compositions - labyrinthine passages that snaked their way over complicated musical territory when compared to the lowly dredges and the wretched simplicity of their first three. Galloping along to “Strike of the Morning Star” as Incubus demonstrates higher levels of percussive fidelity while Dagon mesmerizes with illusory melodies and commands the listener to their knees before the Lightbringer with hypnotic yet dismal vocalizations. “Nefarious Dismal Orations” is just a souped-up version of Inquisition’s debut, “Into the Infernal Regions of the Ancient Cult” LP: every bit as grimy but set off by the gleam of magisterial drumming and sweet melodious riffing. The luminance of Lucifer and the shadow realm of Satan dually explored - the wisdom of The Father and the commanding nature of His Infernal Majesty to illuminate the spirit before bringing you to bow in humble observance of His diabolical throne… And as the dreamlike mid-tempo’d “Where Darkness Is Lord and Death the Beginning” unfolds, it’s to the warmth of His energy as it sublimely blankets your soul during every martial cadence-driven, soothing melodious passage. Pathways into the realm of seductive Satanic ecstasy. A truly magickal ritual thus far.

Head on into the blast-ridden gauntlet of the titular track now - perpetually relentless - jackhammering you into willing submission. A track with force and intention to follow up its hypnotic predecessor. Awakened into a most chaotic environment, and swirling into the following track, “Enter the Cult”. A show of force and a testament to the reality of such authoritative talent as Inquisition intrepidly drive the momentum forward during this omega-realizing instrumental. A foreshadowing of future grandiosity is “Nefarious Dismal Orations”. From this point on, Inquisition’s music would evolve considerably into something entirely more excessive. The mysteries of the cosmos to be studied and celestial knowledge imparted to us in the form of albums like “Obscure Verses for the Multiverse” and “Bloodshed Across the Empyrean Altar Across the Celestial Zenith” that transcend even the furthest stretches of black metal conceptualization.

Inquisition’s last two recordings have seen the band in a more fundamental artistic state. There’s this classy and dignified feel to their music now. Not to say that their more flamboyant works aren’t stellar, but this new grounded approach to their craft is delightfully refreshing. Their latest album, “Veneration of Medieval Mysticism and Cosmological Violence” is their very best in my opinion and it’s indicative of musical wisdom that exceeds that of even the legends of the genre. The greatest black metal outfit to have ever emerged out of the West and USBM’s proudest offering are Inquisition. So, prepare to bask in the illumination of Lucifer and in the warm austere gaze of Satan as you take in “Nefarious Dismal Orations” - the benchmark of the beginning of Inquisitional ingenuity.

8.5/10

Experience “Nefarious Dismal Orations” by Inquisition right here as presented by Season of Mist:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLArAJlC1y55_kFP0bI9ppfz0X4dbS8Ddv&;si=cpcw8qs3QsQGD0bN

~Jeger