Quod Superius Sicut Inferius is ASTARTE’s third offering. My surprise came with the very first track: these Greek gathering of female souls (formerly known as LLOTH) seem to have realized that playing BM is not all about screaming, only playing fast (noisy as it might get) and clinging on to the image.
In comparison with the debut Doomed Dark Years (noisy distortion of a vain attempt at playing BM), I would say this is actually the first time I pay attention to these women’s music ~ finally, there is some content in it.
Musically, ASTARTE seem to be going in the old ROTTING CHRIST, BATHORY (Hammerheart) or PARADISE LOST direction (mostly In Velvet Sumber). Most Greek bands seem to have a peculiarly Greek facet; therefore, I say they stick closer to SEPTIC FLESH and ROTTING CHRIST.
A more negative side to the album does not have to do with the album itself, but with the fact that it has already been the object of comments such as ‘that proved that women can play BM equally as powerful as men’ and other similar utterances of sheer stupidity. Such positive discrimination! ASTARTE are certainly better than many (there is an immensely rotten offer on the market), but that does certainly not make them good. I seem to lack the patience necessary to hearing them much time in a row ~ I still think they are quite average, though they are much better than in previous albums.
The photo session also turned out a bit too corny. All this SM, gothic imagery makes me sick. I prefer by far the Amazon drawings of the band members.
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Cover Astarte – Quod Superius Sicut Inferius Front
Astarte – Inflamed Paradox