For having a successful Black Metal band, there is no set formula, but if you start by naming your band Goats of Doom, you’re already heading in the right direction. Goats, of course, are always a solid choice—these often hilarious specimens among the hollow-horned animals have been linked to the Devil for centuries through Christian tradition and are immensely popular as memes. Doom is another word that works well—not only representing eternal downfall but also a video game that many of us have wasted hours playing.
The Finnish Goats of Doom took things seriously and added INRI as their album title— Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum, the slogan placed above the supposed Son of God on the cross, as well as the legendary album by Brazil’s Sarcofago. But you should never judge a book by its cover. With such a band name and album art, one might expect an old-school War Metal band in the vein of Beherit or Blasphemy, but that’s where things take a turn—Goats of Doom are more than that.
The fact that INRI is the band’s seventh album proves that Goats of Doom are no newcomers. They’ve been active in the international scene for over 17 years but had somehow stayed under my radar.
Besides the expected chaos and sonic brutality, the album INRI also incorporates elements of Doom and even NWOBHM influences. Where you’d expect blast beats, raw guitars, and icy screams, you actually get a relatively accessible, almost ‘80s-style variant of Black Metal. Of course, the traditional elements are all present, but every track has something unique to discover. The opener, Vihani Saatanan Mahdilla Roihuaa, starts off with a news broadcast before introducing clean vocals, and it’s followed by a full-fledged Heavy Metal track—complete with a Rob Halford-style scream.
Despite the unusual mix of all the aforementioned genres, this is a highly enjoyable album. The wild guitars, aggressive vocals, and chaotic atmosphere make it a definite recommendation for anyone who loves the ’80s but also has their roots in the ’90s.
Somewhere, I feel like I should be ashamed that I had never heard of these Finns before. But hey, we live in an era where we are practically bombarded with new releases, and it’s still recommended to get at least eight hours of sleep per day. Goats of Doom are now firmly on my radar, and I’m going to dive into their back catalog… BUY!
80/100
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