What’s great is that while this album comes across as a whiskey-fueled, head banging good time, the lyrics are (for the most part) very hateful and strongly anti-Christian. And hell, maybe that does sound like a good time for some. Anyway, what it tells me is that someone really put some effort into this record. “Holocaust of the God Believers” is an hour and thirteen minutes that seems to end in about thirty five minutes. Not a dull moment and never repetitive or droning. For this style, Countess could’ve easily saved the last third of this album for the next record, but didn’t. This is dedication.

While this album is very much black metal at its core, the rock aspects go farther than just a mid tempo beat and a catchy rhythm. There are some strong moments of blues and even ballad-esque sections. And much like both, the album doesn’t always take itself too seriously. Songs like “Columbine High Blues” and “Black Metal Storm” which is one of those classic heavy metal anthems with choruses and chants of “horns in the air,” “steel and fire in the night,” “blazing black leather, spikes and chains,” etc.

The cover is a scene of a Roman gladiator arena where several people are being crucified and set on fire in front of a large crowd. Nothing terribly original, but not out of place either.

The only negative to this album is maybe the vocals. They’re highly distorted and can be a little grating, but thankfully “Holocaust of the God Believers” doesn’t rely on them and is more focused on the song writing in which it comes out a winner.

Highlight tracks are “Het Woud Der Verdoemden,” “Rebel Stand,” “Clarion Call of Destiny,” “Black Crusade,” and “Lof Der Gemaskerde.”