So, yeah, I didn't really have high hopes for this Judas Iscariot outfit. Obstensibly a one man band, Judas Iscariot is one of those type of black metal outfits that relies on high-falutin' statements like "Judas Iscariot is more than just music" in their liner notes to let would-be listeners know this is "elite" material meant only for certain souls. And that is, of course, correct. The sales demographics for black metal shows that most folks just do not care for this sort of music. Grand! And besides, "Judas Iscariot is the spirit dethroning a lonely feeble god". Does your Rush collection do that? I thought not.

So despite all these unintentionally hilarious statements (which of course make Mr. Iscariot a cult figure in the lonesome underground world of black metal where it is required to make ludicrous statements and actually mean them), it turns out Dethroned, Conquered and Forgotten is this nifty, blazing EP that does a bang-up job of raw black metal. Given the many attempts by lesser acts out there, this isn't an easy thing to accomplish. It's obvious that even though Judas Iscariot was, until recently, based in the United States, the influences were very much based in Scandanavia. There are no hints of keyboards, offkey female singers, breasts on the CD cover or heck, even a small demon needing a hug. This is the type of black metal that goes for the jugular, slits your throat and then dances in a whimsidasical circle around your dying corpse. There are hints of Burzum in the guitar dissonance and a whole lot of Darkthrone, except on a handful of amphetamines. The blastcore songs on this EP feature entirely vicious riffage and a tempo set to kill drummers who aren't in shape. The vocals are your typical raspy trollboy stuff, but it fits the music very nicely.

In spite of the goofy nature of "true" black metal, Judas Iscariot shows they have the goods where it counts: in the music. If Immortal is too slow, Darkthrone too cheerful and Mayhem too glamorous, Judas Iscariot is the cure. If I ever have the need to chase Mormon missionaries away, this is my soundtrack.

Review by John Chedsey

Review date: 12/2002

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Judas Iscariot is certainly one prolific artist. Over the past few years, a veritable plethora of raw black metal releases have poured forth from this project and without fail, there has been nothing but a steady level of quality with every release. This four song EP, entitled Moonlight Butchery, finds Judas Iscariot sticking to the form of his Norwegian predecessors and giving the "old world style" its proper treatment without sounding like a ripoff or puppy-like follower.

The sound of Moonlight Butchery reminds me both of early Darkthrone and Burzum. The songs, excepting the EP's closer "Conjuring Hell's Fire" (which was recorded during a different session), are mid-paced affairs that rely on the almighty grim riff to carry the songs. Judas Iscariot has the keen ability to figure out precisely the proper riff to use. Despite the often simplistic nature of the songs, they carry themselves incredibly well. Throughout Moonlight Butchery, Judas Iscariot creates that peculiar mood that seemingly only the early Scandanavian masters could come up with on a regular basis. This is exactly what raw black metal should sound like. It has that ugly recording value that enhances the mood, but still allows the instruments some clarity. The vocals are throat shredding and never cartoonish.

Overall, Judas Iscariot stands as one of the premiere raw black metal outfits in existence. Although the influences are worn very much on his sleeve, the songwriting is more than adequate enough to avoid sounding like a photocopy. Another fine EP by one of the few truly remarkable black metal bands still going at it.

Review by John Chedsey

Review date: 07/2003

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