The second record And Cosmos from Ashes to Dust.. . already came out last year. Now it gives a second release containing the complete 1997er demo 'Through the Dark Age we are dreaming' as the band's name still was Worship.

After the opera-like intro build up an atmosphere with a certain dramaturgy, with first right song Vampyric Metarmophosis astonishes immediately the tonal improvement to its predecessor record Towards Thy Astral Path . It is more detail-fold and powerful, the rough, strident and flat sound is passé. This is good as Stutthof has developed its music since their debut record. Those songs of 'And Cosmos from Ashes to Dust ...'are very long and thereby conditioned varied. Easy to grasp passages exist; too, nevertheless they are just an element besides others. The over presented keyboard is also absent which determined the predecessor defensively. You can say Stutthof is matured, which is derived from the thematic that exclusively refers to occult and satanic content at the actual record.
Musically And Cosmos from Ashes to Dust... is a diversified record, uniting complex compositions, quiet and atmospheric arrangements with fast catching. The typical Greek elements are not shortening as in the grand title 'The Horned Moon' having magnificent riffs appearing nowhere else on the globe. But also the 20 minutes overlong 'Crossing The 9th Gate To The Kingdom Of Shadow' is of excellence. It is a sluggish and extremely powerful opus with long sustained instrumental passage, multifaceted guitar melodies which are heard gingerly in the background as some energetic eruptions.

The demo material naturally is some more raw as the above spoken record, indeed in surprisingly well tonal quality - that is better than from the debut record. These four tracks can be described as classic Greek Black Metal, where the shriek singing is under laid with tidy peal and the keyboard is often used.

This CD is a recommendable and succeeded release, being atmospheric dark and affected and also offers a lot over a total playing time of 77 minutes. Interesting peoples in Greek Black Metal cannot pass this piece. But also all others taking pleasure in occult Black Metal are well advised, because it features atmospheric as hard facets.


Aceust

(Translation by G.P.)

01. An invocation to those who have risen
02. Wampyric metamorphosis
03. The horned moon
04. Crossing the 9th gate to the kingdom of shadows
05. Dragon the great one
06. The breaking of the 7th seal
07. Dark endless
08. Through the dark age we are dreaming
09. Pagan warriors
10. Worship


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