Hailing from France, MELEK-THA creates extreme bleak atmospheric music which has been described as occult black industrial. There's a strong contingent of samples here on this constantly powerful captivating CD.

'Gloriam Demondi - Prelude' starts things off. It has sampled female vocals. I don't know where they come from, but it's definitely a horror film. This leads into 'Regnia for The Damned' which is dark industrial, almost sounding black metal although guitars are absent. 'Ars Infernalia - United in Blasphemy' is more trance-like with its pounding tribal rhythm backed with dreamy but noisy effects and whispery vocals. 'Heretic Dogma' begins with some kind of ceremony, then drifts into some crunching dark industrial. It's filled with intense power as samples are buried within a crackling wall of sound. 'Evil Apostasia - Another Nails for Usurper' is slower and dreamier although just as dark. There's a much more subtle tribal beat. Although it builds as it goes on. 'Dominus Inferi - The Great Sabbath' is intense clanging industrial throughout. 'Ars Diabolica - Child Was Born With Horns' follows at a similar pace although with a far heavier beat and it reminds me of Non. Final track 'Luciferian March' has a military marching beat and features backing vocals from Ingar Amlien. In all is a refreshingly excellent piece of work and stands out compared to much of today's inferior commercial industrial.

John Marshall