Caïna – Christ Clad in White Phosphorus (Apocalyptic Witchcraft)

Genre: Black Metal

This is black metal coated with the grit of post-industrial Britain, reverberating with the metallic clang of reconstruction, of continuous ‘renewal’ – and it has more in common with the bleak urban hymns of Godflesh than anything from the forests of Scandinavia. Multi-instrumentalist Andy Curtis-Brignell and vocalist Laurence Taylor – aka Caïna – have certainly stretched themselves here, creating a multi-layered experience that can be both jarring and infectious.

The Promise of Youth, for instance, is underscored by fairly orthodox BM riffery, but as with much of the album, it’s enveloped in a kind of noxious fog that lends the song a corrosive, claustrophobic feel.

The title track, however, nods to many of Curtis-Brignell’s 90s industrial heroes (Front 242, Nine Inch Nails), as well as fellow Mancunians Joy Division, while Extraordinary Grace drifts into ambient electronica, with spoken word vocals just beneath the surface.

For the most part though, it’s the acidic sounds found on the likes of Gods Tongue On An Ashtray and Torture Geometry which dominate Caïna’s eighth full length – and while CCIWP feels somewhat disjointed at times, it certainly leaves a lasting impression.

RUSHONROCK RATED: 7.5/10 Chemical Attack