Prehistoric War Cult - Cold Wind Howls Over the Burial Site Demo

Club, meet skull.

(Originally submitted to the Metal Archives on December 8th 2021) 

War metal, despite how small of a genre it is, can be divided into two categories: there’s bands that play some of the most primal and violent metal around (Blasphemy, Beherit), and then there’s riffless noise (Conqueror, Revenge). It is with great pleasure that I inform you, my dear reader, that Prehistoric War Cult’s Cold Wind Howls Over the Burial Site falls firmly in the former category, and is one of the better war metal releases of the year.
The music presented here is what one would assume looking from the band logo: primitive and bludgeoning rhythms that give the listener little room to breathe. Whether it’s fast, chaotic riffs tearing through everything or pummelling riffs at a lower speed, the band remains consistently relentless through the EPs 15 minute runtime (the cover at the end notwithstanding). Despite said aggression though, the tracks here are surprisingly sticky, and have a multitude of riffs that are quite earwormy. Songs like “Blood Sacrifice”, “Procession Into the Poison Jungle” and “Raiding The Enemy Village (as Foretold by the Sacred Bones)” (what a mouthful) are full of neck-snapping tempo changes and brutal riffing that is sure to satisfy any fans of the style.
Said primitivism extends to the vocal performance and the EPs general themes. The vocalist’s mid/low range growls and screams immediately bring to mind a bloodthirsty caveman who’s about to engage in tribal warfare. Speaking of which, the lyrics here are all about violence, primarily the kind that involves beating people over the head with clubs. They’re not particularly deep or well-written, but they’re surprisingly fun to read, and do manage to paint a vivid image despite their simplicity.
Regarding the Goatlord song, “Blood Monk”, I’m gonna be honest and say that I prefer it in comparison to the original. The production (more on that later) is so much fuller and crushing in comparison to the one seen on Reflections of the Solstice, and it really helps bring out the most out of the riffs. It, like the kids say these days, “hits different” in comparison to the original’s more occult atmosphere, and serves as a nice bookend to the EP.
The aforementioned production is surprisingly good, considering how not only is this a debut EP, but it’s also in a genre that is known for being rather underproduced. The guitars have a muddy tone to them, but are still discernible, while the grimy bass helps supplement the warlike feel of the release, while the drums pound away in the back, with the snare in particular cutting through the mix. Said mix is also quite well handled, with all the instruments being audible most of the time, barring the bass getting lost during the faster moments here.
Despite all the praise I’ve heaped on this release so far, I can’t deny that it has some shortcomings to it. This is one of those releases that while fun, is also extremely one note. Once you’ve finished “Blood Sacrifice”, you’ve already experienced everything this EP has to offer. It’s not so much that the band repeats itself, but more so that they don’t offer much besides relentless riffs. Thankfully the release’s brevity prevents it from becoming too stale, and the entertainment factor does make up for its simplicity to an extent.
Cold Wind Howls Over the Burial Site does exactly what it says on the tin, nothing more, and nothing less. It’s an easy recommendation to anyone who’s already invested in the genre, and even those who are interested in diving into it. They might not be the most original or varied band out there, but they’re undoubtedly a good time, and that’s what counts.
Highlights: Blood Sacrifice, Procession Into the Poison Jungle, Raiding the Sacred Village (as Foretold by the Sacred Bones)

Rating: 84% 

  

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