The Art of Blasphemy - Use Your Idols!!! (2005)

   As black metal became the most popular extreme metal genre and outgrew itself, plenty of new bands showed up to play this style how it shouldn't be played. Or from a different perspective: newer bands showed other alternatives by forming the style to their own taste, and added a new point of view. It's always the listener's thing to decide.
   The provoking and exaggerated imagery of The Art of Blasphemy didn't illustrate the compromiselessness of their music, because the influence of Cradle of Filth is easier to find there than any musical references to the classics of the genre. They often completed their atmospheric sound with some symphonic background, but the simplicity of their themes and the same evil-wretched gremlin voice also showed similarities to Cradle of Filth. In truth mostly the sound, the concept and the vocal style could be found responsible for the genre selection. The middle speed groovy themes they preferred could fit into plenty of other styles except to black metal. The occasional hammering parts can compense some, but the album still remains quite melodic and audience-friendly. Without the atmosphere and by different vocals it could be even party-compatible too. Though "Use Your Idols!!!" wasn't a bad album, and sounds decent as a debut, it didn't include the dark and inhuman impression that could be expected by their main concept.