FIDES INVERSA – MYSTERIUM TREMENDUM ET FASCINANS LP (World Terror Committee)

With more mysterious nine-letter Latin words than you could shake a big stick at, Fides Inversa’s second full-length, ‘Mysterium Tremendum Et Fascinans’, has been given a majestic vinyl makeover by WTC, housed within a stunning gatefold jacket and featuring a beautiful inner sleeve with lyrics and symbolism confirming that we are once more in the realm of orthodoxy here.

I’m a bit confused by exactly what the obsession with religious themes in Black Metal and Death Metal represents when the bands are so informed on the subject. Why quote empty texts? Why does anybody delve so deeply into religion?

Of course, the purpose is to oppose and discredit it (I think) but … by giving it airtime and obsessing on it? What the fuck! There’s so much passion and insight in the lyrics, how can it be anti? Is it necessary to be an authority on something in order to dismiss it? As far as I’m concerned, there is obviously no man upstairs (anyone who is fully evolved should know this instinctively) so I am not going to waste time reading about him and his myths, and / or quoting or referencing books of lies.

Anyway, despite my suspicions about those who seemingly study these superstitious themes (did they once investigate to see if there might be a God, hahahahahaha?), I must profess to loving this album. ‘Mysterium Tremendum Et Fascinans’ is a great listen. Even if the spiritual aspect of it goes right over my head, there’s no denying that it works. Black Metal about the bogey man, folks, works better than it probably should.

Evilometer: 555/666