NEO-SATAN - Black Mass Prophecy

Invert your crosses, put on your darkest robes, and prepare to Ave Satanas as NEO-SATAN is dropping their second EP titled Black Mass Prophecy. While normally I am more than well prepared to give a backstory on any given band, NEO-SATAN is the kind of project where there isn't too much information about them floating around on the internet. What I do know of the project is that they are a black metal/EBM/dark electro hybrid whose first release Ghastly Wings of the Dead appeared on Halloween of 2014 on Werkstatt Recordings. While their first EP fell in the synthwave category, their newer album expresses a harsh love for all things lo-fi and black metal. 

The EP starts off with the track 'Fall From Grace' which is an atmospheric and moody introductory track. Consider this the opening ritual for the rest of the ceremony you are about to indulge in. It's almost as if Pinhead and the rest of the Cenobytes from the world of Hellraiser are about to walk through your door and tear your soul apart. Beckoning calls from demons far off, a steady pulse of percussion, and an eerie synth all make this song come to life. 

From their we're delivered 'Bloodfist & Goatslaughter' which could pair up next to current EBM sensation Youth Code. The sound isn't as crisp and begs a little lo-fi sound to the beat, alongside odd undertones that sound like a growl in the background. The only thing that NEO-SATAN could do to improve this track - and I am nit-picking a little - is finding a better balance between music and vocals. I felt as if the electronics well overpowered the harshly whispered vox in the song. Nonetheless, I still appreciated 'Bloodfist & Goatslaughter' for what it was.

'Beneath the Light' had a old-school EBM kick to it focusing on synths, drums, and further manipulated vox. The last track on the EP 'Morbid Nightmares' had the same odd problem as 'Bloodfist & Goatslaughter'  with the music seemingly overpowering the vox. Again, it's a minor issue as the lo-fi structure and siren-esque calls in the song were lovely. 

NEO-SATAN hasn't broken any boundaries with Black Mass Prophecy, but the project is able to deliver a solid, genre-mixing four-track EP that should please fans of synths, EBM, and dark electronic music all the same. Short as it is, you can get the digital version for only 3 EU and that's cheap enough if you like what you're hearing. Go check it out and support the industry. 
Feb 21 2017