Season of Mist

In their 12 years as black metal juggernauts, Pest have always kept it true. Here, with Rest in Morbid Darkness, they continue to keep it true with the sounds of raw and violent black metal from below the depths of Earth. Having always taken much from the likes of Darkthrone, Bathory, Nifelheim, and other pioneers of this grim, dirty and unpolished form of Scandinavian black metal, Pest have made a name for themselves in the underground and it's their mission to keep it simple, ugly and harsh.

 This ritualistic killing spree from 2008 has Pest's brand of hateful black metal written, or rather carved, all over it. As soon as the guitars, vocals and drums all strike in 40 seconds into the first track, it's clear this is still the same band, the same black metal warriors not trying to reinvent a genre, but they're keeping the tormented and untamed spirit of black metal alive with guitars that (I know it's cliche' but it is so glaringly true, here) buzz like chainsaws in a subterranean den of beasts. The guitars often find themselves accompanying the drums, it seems, for the blasting can go on for what may seem like a small eternity and overpower what is going on with the guitars. But this is not typical, and often the riffs alone become the focus. The riffs are simple enough to accent the music whenever it needs it, as Necro's roars can carry this music to the level it wishes to reach - bestial, if such a level can be attained or even described.

Pest shares much with 80's thrash, and has not forgotten that this is the source of so much of the relentlessly aggressive music that has branched from the main trunk of heavy metal. The thrash tendencies are more than obvious, anything but subtle, but not overdone to the point that would make one consider calling them another black/thrash novelty act (not to suggest that blackened thrash is a novelty!). There's far more black metal going on here than anything else. But guitar solos find themselves sprinkled through out the album, popping up at the most opportune times, fulfilling any desires of a vibe thrown back to the peak of the 80's, complete with the occassional driving thrash riffs that noticeably shift the focus away from the black metal evil, and leave room for you to bang your head. I've always found that being able to headbang while defiling corpses, performing Satanic rituals, worshiping the spirits of darkness, or summoning ancient powers of hell is not just a convenience, but a requirement. 

As with all black metal albums that may be described by the words "bestial", "holocaust", "harsh" or "warlike", one look at the two men of Pest decked out in their bullets, leather and spikes will give you an idea of how this album sounds. It harbors a little more energy than some previous Pest releases, and while in no way could one call it polished, it manages to give a little more clarity to what is going on while retaining the rawness that gives black metal its character.

 1. Possessed by the Beast

2. Nights  in the Cursed Chapel

3. Blessed by Hellfire

4. Rest in Morbid Darkness

5. Bestial Crucifixion

6. Vomit Up the Blood of Jesus

7. Shadows of the Dead

8. Final Strike of Doom

9. The Lust for Cruelty

 8.0/10