BLOOD OF KINGU – Sun in the House of the Scorpion CD review

BLOOD OF KINGU – Sun in the House of the Scorpion CD
Candlelight Records

Those of you who are regular readers of Scumfeast Metal 666, and frankly who isn’t, will know that I’m a huge fan of Roman Saenko’s musical output over the years. I have everything he did with DRUDKH, a few things from HATE FOREST and the first BLOOD OF KINGU release De Occulta Philosophia from 2007. I’ve passed on some of his other projects but all in all when it comes to Mr. Saenko I’m biased as fuck and I’m not Ukrainian either. Like the last release what we have here is DRUDKH without the majestic atmosphere and production values or, if you will, HATE FOREST in an early stage of progression. Obviously what I’m getting at is the sound and style is somewhere lurking inbetween those two great bands. Instead of running through an Eastern European forest high on sampled hallucinogenic tree bark you’re traipsing through tombs examining hieroglyphics. That’s why I look at BLOOD OF KINGU more like Roman Saenko’s personal indulgence. It’s like a photo artist who also does weddings for the extra cash and then sells the up the skirt shots to sleaze merchants.

Music and lyric-wise the songs on here are bathed in ancient Sumerian and Egyptian mythology. Those of you who are subject matter fans of NILE and newer BEHEMOTH might take notice. Although soundwise this is colder than Napoleon’s nuts when he invaded Russia. Roman Saenko’s vocals sound like someone trying to recite poetry while suffering in the throes of hypothermia. Musically there’s an almost IMMORTAL sound to a few cuts although not as crispy. You know they weren’t really playing outside in the ice and snow. If you’re a DRUDKH fan from way back, as in a few years ago when you found one of their reissued CDs at Hot Topic, then you are not going to like this one bit. Although I would love to hear your thoughts on LUCIFUGUM, another time perhaps when I’m comatose and have five minutes left to live. But let’s not dwell on the future because Sun in the House of the Scorpion, which sounds like a movie title starring special effects, is dusty, dirty and without mummies running around with swords. The fact is this dink is brutal to the point where nardowells who are now into DRUDKH will not understand the depth of the song craft and historical significance put forth by Roman Saenko. Its ancient history set to black metal and for those who don’t get it well DIMMU BORGIR has a new CD coming out.

www.candlelightrecordsusa.com