Pest have been around a while, but are little known. I came accross their album "Rest in morbid darkness" some time ago, through circumstance I cannot honestly remember. The sound of the album belies the date at which it was released, and you could happily conclude that it was part of the 90's Black Metal scene. But no, the truth? This album was released in 2008, on Seasons underground activists records. (A branch of Seasons of mist records)
For starters, this is not an album for the easily offended. In traditional black metal style, the album is bedecked with titles such as "Vomit up the blood of Jesus" among others.
Listening to the album, one of the immediate striking features is that, unlike so many Black-metal bands, Pest's songs are actually very catchy, if that's the appropriate word. The opening belter "Possesed by the Beast" is a prime example of this.
After raging through similar 3-5 minute black metal standards, we reach the final track; "The Lust for Cruelty" which is a 14-minute black metal epic, which can evoke feelings of rage, dread, and awe, as good black metal should.
However, as excellent as the songs may be, they are very much "standard issue" black metal, and little new ground is covered here. That of course, may be exactly what you like. But hunters of progressive black metal probably won't find it here.
I give the album a steady 7/10.
Links:
Pest on Metal-Archives
Pest on Amazon - UK
Pest on Amazon - USA
