Book of Black Earth - The Cold Testament (2011) [Prosthetic] //Grade: A

I was beginning to wonder about Book of Black Earth. Especially with frontman TJ Cowgill’s new found love for Satanic Folk and Actual Pain’s success as a clothing label. But we all know that metal is eternal and the newest album from Book of Black Earth, The Cold Testament is living proof. The band is back with its fast-paced and brutal approach to metal. It’s not exactly black, death or power metal and yet it speaks clearly to fans across all genres.

With religious overtones (LOL at the name of the album), BOBE delivers one ass-kicking, beer chugging, throw shit around, good time. If you’ve ever seen the band live, you know what I’m talking about. The powerhouse amps up with “Weight of the World”, and at a first glance, you might mistake it for some emotionally-charged, woe-as-me ballad. Trust me, it’s anything but that. Bestial blast-beats and TJ’s vocals rip open a can of kick ass and for over 5-minutes, we’re all sucked in!

Next up is “Cross Contamination”. At this point, we’re about 6-minutes into the album and I’m hooked like a bass on a lure. Trememlo picking and blast beats are only overpowered by the vocals. That’s always been my favorite part of BOBE’s performance: the brutal as fuck vocals! To keep it nice and frosty, “Antarctica” comes in with a percussion-heavy intro. Imagine if Baroness was even more pissed off and cold! That’s what I’m picturing anyway. This one’s a sing-along fest and is my favorite track on the album.

As the song titles get even more ridiculous, we’re approached with a “Irritating Spectre”. Seriously? A track worth of a few dirty boots stomping around is the balls-to-the-wall cut “Termination”. This shit is making demons weep and Book of Black Earth just won’t let up. How about some dis-beat? “Research and Destroy” kicks it up a notch with some fucking awesome d-beat, a la Discharge and Dishammer. In fact, all this song needed was an incorporation of “dis” before the name. How about “Research and Dis-troy”? As the d-beat drops out, the tribal-like drums continue to compliment TJ’s fierce vocals.

All good things must come to an end and with two tracks remaining, The Cold Testament ensures that no living things will be left with “Road Dogs From Hell”. Fucking crowd chants! WE ARE ROAD DOGS FROM HELL! WE’RE SHIT OUT OF LUCK AND WE DON’T GIVE A FUCK. THIS IS THE LIFE WE CHOSE! Hell yes. As history had proven, no metal album is complete with some down-time. Enter “I See Demons”, the least audiably-assaulting track on The Cold Testament. Soon the intro wears down into a full-on blackened thrash fest. Just as the track began, it ends, somber and quietly. Book of Black Earth did it again. The The Cold Testament is another ass-kicking good time. Highly suggested and don’t miss their live show you clowns!

- Prolly