The band uses mid-paced tempos in a few songs, including the title track and the epic “Goat and the Moon.” For the majority of the album, Archgoat is straightforward in their unholy assault on the listener. Atmosphere is key to their sound, as the band uses samples and ominous chanting to help “Fornicated Messiah” and “Sodomator Of The Doomed Venus” tell their tales of slaughtered virgins and the bastard son of God.
Musically, Archgoat is competent, but doesn’t strive for anything too technical. Like most early black metal, the bass is inaudible, drowned out by the pummeling drum work and fast tremolo guitar picking. The trio has a solid chemistry, one that makes the album more dynamic than it seemed on the surface.
The Light-Devouring Darkness starts out strong, but sputters at the end due to repetitious melodies. Archgoat knows their limits and works around it, keeping a speedy pace throughout the album, which keeps the repetition from grating on the listener. The Light-Devouring Darkness is solid black metal that does the basics elements right, but fails to add anything to differentiate itself from the rest of the herd.
(released April 21, 2009 on Moribund Records)
