The Pitch: Decadent old school blackened thrash from Dark Descent Records. "The vices of man, the plagues they unleashed upon themselves, and the rationalisation of its own actions." FFO Bathory, Destroyer 666
What I Like: The album certainly starts off on a promising note. The riffs are fast and will make your face raw like a sandpaper scarf on a cold, bleak winter morning. The production definitely plays heavily to the 80's metal scene, as do the wonderful shrieks of the lead vocalist. With devastating growls and some eardrum shattering highs, I think this may be my favorite aspect of the band's sound. I also really dig the the bass riff and snare rolls that open up "Black Flame Divination." The delightful cover art is Daniel Corcuera's take on the1896 wood carving 'Mammon und sein Sklave.'
What I Don't Like: Blackened thrash plays best when it is quick and concise. Such a model allows the ferocity to truly seep through. Unfortunately, Craven Idol slip into senselessly longer runtimes and some slower material that can come off as dull after the initial blow wears off.
The Verdict: An album that intrigues me to explore the band's previous material and watch for more, but as a whole I find myself wishing for shorter, more consistently aggressive material.
Flight's Fav's: Pyromancer, A Ripping Strike, Black Flame Divination
