Patristic – Catechesis

Metalcatto

Whether we like it or not, 2025 has become the year of Blackened Death Metal. Sure, Behemoth dropped something, but we’ve also had heavyweights such as Dormant Ordeal and Decline of the I raising the bar. Now Patristic storms in with Catechesis, looking ready to join this fiercely competitive field. Dramatic cover art, unsettling religious track names, an ambitious scope, and Willowtip Records backing it—on paper, everything points to a real show‑stopper. The flip side is that my expectations shoot to a surreal level, which could set the stage for disappointment.

Fortunately, Catechesis is intense, corrosive, and instantly recalls the bands mentioned above, yet it dares to be more abstract. At times I catch an Ingurgitating Oblivion vibe, where elements from entirely different genres collide to create something inaccessible yet compelling. There are no throwaway interludes; everything is woven into the main tracks, giving the record real cohesion. Honestly, you could split the album into two sprawling movements, and I love that kind of complexity. Where I don’t even know what to feel, but confusion!

Just when it seems Patristic is about to follow a standard Black Metal idea, the music veers off into unexpected territory. Some listeners may find this maddening—I did on occasion—but an open‑minded approach pays dividends. The vocals are vile, a perfect foil to the brief, serene passages that prove this band can do far more than grind souls into dust. Those cello/violin sections are so tasteful. It gives depth to this sorrow parade. If anything, Patristic could push even harder into the weird.

The album ticks nearly every box I love in extreme Metal, but personal taste still sneaks in: the first half feels tighter and more focused than the second. There’s also the challenge of standing out in a flood of similar releases this year. Catechesis displays so much talent that it leaves me wanting an even bigger leap next time—ambition on top of ambition. (Ignore me at your wallet’s peril; being in a Metal band is expensive enough.)

What really baffles me is how crushing and anguished Catechesis sounds—this is a debut, after all. Most groups need decades to achieve such cultivated misery, yet Patristic makes it seem effortless. I’m suddenly in the mood to reread Greek tragedies, because this record feels like the soundtrack to the darkest moments of Antigone. Strangely enough, that makes everything feel just a little bit better.

Label: Willowtip Records

Release date: 20 June, 2025 

Website: https://www.instagram.com/patristic_blackmetal/

Country: USA

Score: 4.0/5.0