To Scale the Throne’s vocalist Ghatanathoa does an uncanny impression of a possession-provoked projectile-vomiter. His evil heaves aren’t easily decipherable — often, the only clear word is “suicide,” which he enunciates with demonic glee — but his ominous intent needs no translation. Guitarists Idimmuxul and Nekrofukk alternate between shredding and slow, sinister stomps, with the death-march-dirge segments making the surges of speed seem even more impressive. Ghatanathoa marks one tight transition into double-time by unleashing his best malicious maniac cackle as the riffs start racing. The cinematic song sequence opens with a serial killer vowing vengeance and closes with a cover of Mayhem’s “Freezing Moon” that pays capable tribute to black metal’s most infamous, violence-ravaged band. Live, things get even more dramatic, with the band members sporting ghoulish corpse-paint cosmetics and summoning their most ungodly expressions. To Scale the Throne — self-described as “the most hated band in Houston” — inducts new rhythm section recruits into its ranks at this CD release show, with drummer Desekrator and bassist Nhuvasarim joining the forsaken fold.
This article appears in May 26 – Jun 1, 2005.