More often than not when we find that some material has Satanic themes or is even just flat out occult, it falls under the more extreme ends of metal versus that of rock much less very intoxicating rock at that. Year of the Goat showed me that such an art is far from dead with their last album, “The Unspeakable”, with plenty of its contents being too catchy for me to deny even to today. Combined with terrific vocals and great diversity in their spotless musicianship, Year of the Goat made a particularly potent work that was simply gripping. A few years later, it seems that Year of the Goat has been hard at work to hone their craft with the fruits of their labors being extremely evident throughout all of this upcoming opus.

Going into “Novis Orbis Terrarum Ordinis”, I could not help but feel that Year of the Goat could’ve taken any aspect of their chilling and magnificent sound to amplify it ten thousandfold with there being little doubt in my mind that they wouldn’t be able to pull it off splendidly. Just dipping your toes into the first few tracks of this record can throw down such quality that’s all but entrancing, and then to dive right into everything else that Year of the Goat has to say with “Novis Orbis Terrarum Ordinis” is to delve into a deep world of hypnosis and delightful evilness that is all but tantalizing. It’s with immense talent and magnificent maneuvering across plenty of what makes rock great to begin with from day one as we’re treated to slower tracks filled with loads of chilling atmosphere and marathons of galloping riffs that instantly allow Year of the Goat to become everything that they’ve been building up to. Third time really seems to be the charm with “Novis Orbis Terrarum Ordinis” with every single element of this album coming together with what seems to be nearly flawlessly, and even after several listens of this massive album can I actually comprehend the glory of what’s been done here. Each track has an absolute menagerie of different kills to call its own wrapped exquisitely in occult rock the likes of which I’ve only seen come from Year of the Goat as they stand atop their throne as one of the most compelling acts of the genre, and just a single spin of this earworm of an album will show exactly why that’s the case.

They could’ve very easily gone for a more accessible route with “Novis Orbis Terrarum Ordinis” but they became so much more throughout this massive piece. I’ve spent so much time in this magnificent effort and it’s even after so much time thinking of how to translate this great experience I can’t say anything more than it’s a potent rock release that simply must be heard. Year of the Goat has long been an act that I’ve respected with their talent being clear at every turn, and it’s here that they’re at the peak of their quality.

“Novis Orbis Terrarum Ordinis” releases on September 6th via Napalm Records!

PRE-ORDER “Novis Orbis Terrarum Ordinis” via multiple sources here.

LISTEN to singles from “Novis Orbis Terrarum Ordinis” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Year of the Goat on Facebook here.