Their previous effort Resurrection Macabre was received with mixed emotions amongst some of the fans. Mostly stating that this wasn't the real Pestilence. Patrick Mameli, bandleader and writer of most of the material didn't cared at all and even stated that there never will be a reunion. In the mean time he also kept writing new material. The album that is called Doctrine is recorded with an entire Dutch lineup. This means a new drummer by the name of Yuma van Eekelen and the return of bassplayer Jeroen Paul Thesseling.

 

After a rather satanic intro that builds up in intensity 'Amgod' is the first track to blast out of your speakers. My first impression is immediately good. Yuma van Eekelen lays down a solid groove that is completed by impressive basswork of Jeroen Paul Thesseling. The 8 stringguitars of both Patrick Mameli and Patrick Uterwijk gives the entire sound a think heavy layer and on top of that there are the almost maniacal vocals of Mameli.

 

It would only be strange if there weren't any sort of Jazz/ Fusion influences present within the songs and to be honest I'm very happy with those influences. They give the album just a little more of it's own face and lifting them out of the masses of death metal albums. Sometimes it's a great bass lick that pulls out the attention for a second and the other time it's a great simple riff. Overall this is a great album and it wouldn't surprise me if this one would end up in my yearlist of 2011.