Catacombs of the Black Vatican cover

Catacombs of the Black Vatican

Black Label Society · 2014

44 min · 11 tracks · hard rock · heavy metal · groove metal

A fusion of heavy riffs and heartfelt melodies, echoing themes of loss and resilience.

Why this album works

The album debuted at number 5 on the Billboard 200 chart, marking one of their highest-charting records to date. Critics praised its blend of traditional heavy metal elements with emotional depth, solidifying Black Label Society's status within the groove metal genre during the early 2010s.
Career context
Released on January 1, 2014, 'Catacombs of the Black Vatican' is Black Label Society's eighth studio album. This record followed the band's previous release, 'Order of the Black,' which had solidified their commercial presence in the heavy metal scene. By this time, lead guitarist Zakk Wylde was re-establishing his creative voice after a brief hiatus from the band and his collaboration with Ozzy Osbourne.
Stylistic neighbors
Rob Zombie· Adrenaline Mob· Carajo

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Fields of Unforgiveness 3:12
  • 2 My Dying Time Standout 3:22
  • 3 Believe 3:44
  • 4 Angel of Mercy Standout 4:14
  • 5 Heart of Darkness 3:39
  • 6 Beyond the Down 2:54
  • 7 Scars Standout 4:13
  • 8 Damn the Flood 3:18
  • 9 I’ve Gone Away 3:51
  • 10 Empty Promises 5:16
  • 11 Shades of Gray 6:28

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata