EP review: Rope Sect – Proskynesis

The stark gloom-rock sound of Rope Sect is akin to a flickering flame surrounded by the pitch black of night. They’re a shadowy bunch, with an equally opaque lyrical creed, and this mini-album offers a tantalisingly succinct glimpse into both their past and present.

Opener Proskynesis I establishes the quiet power wielded by the German quartet, with spidery guitar lines, metronomic rhythms and the delicately delivered vocals of founder Inmesher. This first half of the EP comprises three new tracks, all named after the record’s title, which refers to a form of reverent supplication practiced in ancient Greece and Rome. It’s fair to assume that the deity or force being worshipped here is one that dwells in darkness, and the seductive eeriness of Rope Sect’s melodies offers a worthy tribute. On Proskynesis III there’s even a hint of tightly controlled metal riffing that brings to mind a version of Ghost with all the bombast stripped out in favour of understated authority.

The rest of Proskynesis features three older songs being given their first physical release. These date back to a time when Inmesher had yet to recruit fellow disciples to the cause of Rope Sect, and the accordingly minimalist nature of the recordings aligns these songs even more closely with the band’s ‘80s post-punk ancestors; the use of a drum machine in such gothy settings can’t help but recall the Sisters Of Mercy in particular. Lava’s faster beats bring a rare urgency before the stately beauty of Odisseia closes proceedings. But if these unearthed rarities bring more variety, it’s Proskynesis I-III which capture the band’s full-strength present, while pointing towards further greatness in their future.

Verdict: 4/5

For Fans Of: Grave Pleasures, Sisters Of Mercy, Fotocrime

Prosknesis is released on December 10 via Iron Bonehead.