Sabbat - History Of A Time To Come (1988)

A real cult gem from the UK, Sabbath coming across as the bastard offspring of Venom and Tolkien's 'Lord Of The Rings' trilogy with their mystical darkness, but this is quite satanic in its overtones, blending speedy thrash with some truly classic heavy metal imagery, from the fantasy cover to Martin Walkyier's growled and venomous tones, great stuff.

Sabbat were always more than your average thrash act, on here combining some bizarre Pagan jigs with medieval oddness, weaved together by some fantastic playing, the music pretty heavy and mid-tempo, some cracking yet enchanted lyrics, and a facade Mercyful Fate and Kind Diamond would be proud of.

Imagine the movie 'The Wicker Man' put to record and you'd get some idea at the intensity and eeriness of this ominous record, leaving the listener spellbound through its dark meanderings through woodland pathways and titan caverns, but this has that European feel to it, an oddness and dryness that you'd associate with Voivod, Coroner, Celtic Frost and the likes, that shadowy presence between big riffs and nasty, sneering vocals.

Imagine the fires crackling and crows squawking to the potent sounds of 'A Cautionary Tale', the booming 'Behind The Crooked Cross' and 'I For An Eye'.

Splendid, majestic and certainly rustic in all its witchy glory.

8.5/10