Review by Sonny for Briton Rites - Occulte Fantastique (2020)

Veteran doom metal vocalist Phil Swanson (Hour of 13, Seamount, Vestal Claret, Atlantean Codex amongst many others) returns with Briton Rites' sophomore album, a full decade after the release of the band's well-regarded debut, For Mircalla. Occulte Fantastique pretty much picks up where the debut left off with Phil's trademark trad doom anthems. The riffs are great for fans of old-school riff-merchants like Tony Iommi or Victor Griffin and Swanson has got a vocal style that is utterly perfect for trad doom, but be warned, the lyrics are incredibly hokey, Roger Corman-esque occult nonsense that may occasionally make you cringe. Deep and meaningful this isn't, but if you feel like a bit of old-time "doom-dancing" and some ridiculously tongue-in-cheek lyrics, then this may be just what the doctor ordered.