OK, the liner notes say that this is a re-release of a promo, and is not reflective of the band’s current direction or talent; which is a lot like the “My Other Car’s A BMW” bumper sticker commonly seen on Pintos.

This is so, so bad. It’s unredeemable badness doesn’t necessarily reflect a lack of technique or even talent, but a total lack of originality and inspiration. “Nihility, etc.” (and please tell me what the fuck that even means) is like a collage of every dark/doom/black album you’ve ever heard, hitting all the most obvious signifiers while delivering zero in the way of freshness or passion.

Synthesized orchestral bullshit shackled to non-denominational hard rock plod just doesn’t sound all that evil or doomy anymore, gentlemen. And a quick tangential thing on “doom” lyrics: in the year 2002, any band whose lyrics are sprinkled with “thee” and “thou” is gonna get what they deserve. Blame MDB (whom I used to truly adore, honestly) for fostering the notion that these sort of faux-Shakesperean things are necessary to convey doominess. But blame Archaean Harmony (and please tell me what the fuck that means), and the countless others of their ilk, for still buying it.

Bands as disparate as the Melvins, Electric Wizard, and Khanate have proven that you can bring the doom without getting all medieval on that ass, so if you don’t say “thee” at the grocery, don’t fucking say it on your album. Enough. I’ve already wasted too much time on this.

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