• 160 gram vinyl
• Gatefold jacket with gloss finish
• A2 double sided poster

The underground nature of this bands releases means that its only now that through reissues and rediscoveries, some of their finer work is becoming somewhat readily available. Much of what I said about the Plateau Of Invincibility EP is true here, although this time theres far more original OFC material to chew on. And although opener Labyrinthine Whispers features a three minute occult noise intro, things soon get pumping in the bands ritualistic approach to early eighties death metal influences.

As Ive mentioned before, Pete Helmkamp (bassist and philosopher) and guitarist Chuck Keller were genuine students of the religious and philosophic, and their lyrics and approach to metal is similarly scholarly in a lyrical sense, if remarkably savage musically. Theres only hint of a post-Morbid Angel influence here, but on the whole OFC worked from the genetic material left behind by Sodom, Kreator and Possessed, eschewing blast beats in favor of pounding riffs and deliberate structures. In fact, things slow down enough for a cover version of Voivods seminal War And Pain, but with the epic Tenebrae, were back into typically shadowy OFC territory.

The sound is raw, like a slightly elevated demo tape, a fearsome brew that only assists this materials unique flavor. For those in the crowd who are currently enjoying death metal along the lines of Nile, Vader or Vital Remains (no disrespect intended here, I love these bands), OFCs intense anti-conformist ways might be a tad rough on your ears. But that doesnt mean they didnt and dont deserve serious consideration. And through the magic of reissues, you just might get to hear em!