Band's List Black Metal Cult Of Fire Ascetic Meditation of Death

The Czech-Republic has a very strong and interesting black metal scene, though, internationally Root might be the more well-known, if not the only name that comes to mind when the topic Czech Black Metal surfaces. It’s a shame that really powerful bands like Cult of Fire remain in the underground’s underground.
"?????? ?? ????? ????????", which translates to “Ascetic Meditation of Death” is a blazing and epic black metal record that fuses Hindi mysticism and musical culture into Cult of Fire’s raging blastbeats and tremolo pickings, grapping the listener by the neck with a demonic claw and pulling him the goddess Kali’s netherworld. Yes, this is not a black metal album dedicated to Satan, but to the Hindu Goddess of Death, Sex and Bloodshed, so hurrah for the lyrical creativity!
Some might be thinking that incorporating instruments like the sitar might take away some of the black metal “purity”, but I assure you that “Ascetic Meditation of Death” is as evil, ravenous and fast-paced as any trve kvlt fan would want it. It’s a really solid and well-done piece of work, with songs with a transcendent/ spiritual soul like “Samhara Raktha Kali” or “Kanda Manda Yoga” and others that bring more of a punch as in “When Death Is All”, “On The Funeral Pyre Of Existence” and “Gruesome Dance Of Death”.
The feeling of grandeur that comes with this fiery 8 occult songs reminds me of Blut Aus Nord’s “Memoria Vetusta” albums, though they do not have none of this Indian cultural vibe, in that aspect, the best name that comes to mind is Portuguese avant-garde/black metal band The Firstborn.
Definitely, one of 2013’s best black metal releases: innovative and with all the savagery. Truly worth your time.