The Art of Blasphemy - Penitence (2007)

   The Art of Blasphemy developed musically a lot all-round since the first album, and they've committed a quite effective return by "Penitence".
   "Use Your Idols!!!" was an audience friendlier album by it's musical simplicity that kept some distance from the Northern style, except the attention seeking features. In the followings they still preferred to stay on their own way as the wildness of Mediterranean bands showed up in their music. That was represented in the heavier sound to involve a second, deep growling backing vocal. In the themes the role of the traditional Northern black metal features increased (the returning guitar melodies strongly reminding to Mayhem), but their music also became more complex and diverse. On "Penitence" they played faster and speed changes are also common. By the intensity and the heavy sound they reached a sick animalistic feeling that's close to point through the borders of ordinary black metal. There are still some raw themes and musical solutions to find, but the band had a large progress that was able to open new perspectives.