Marduk: Fuck Me Jesus (1991 / 1995)

Marduk: Fuck Me Jesus (1991 / 1995)

Wrapped in what's surely a strong contender for BM cover art of the Century, the boldly named FMJ was an early demo release from the 'most blasphemous band in the world'.

It's a hell of a lot better than I'd anticipated it would be, given what I'd read in other media. It's an interesting blend of down-tuned Black and Death Metal with a cluster of unexpected tempo changes that keep things fresh. There's even some creeping Doom influences in there.

It was originally released on cassette in '91, but the version you're likely to find if you go shopping — and the one that I've been referring to — is the '95 Osmose reissue. That version had an additional three tracks, two of which are Bathory covers. If you're paying tribute to any artist in the genre that Marduk are best known for, then early Bathory is a logical choice.

Prey: Series Two (2015)

Prey: Series Two (2015)

Dir. Lewis Arnold | 3 episodes, approx 45 mins each.

Like Series 1 it begins in the thick of it and then skips back (eighteen hours this time) to show how the 'prey' got to be in their current situation. Most of the characters are new, as is the story, so you don't need to have seen the previous miniseries beforehand.

There's some minor continuity, but it's with one cast member only. Not having seen the previous episodes won't have any major impact on your viewing.

Alas, the person in question is DS Susan Reinhart (Rosie Cavaliero), the officer in charge of both cases and who was, for me, the weakest aspect of both. 

Everyone has their strengths — she'd maybe be well-cast as a scullery maid in a BBC period drama — but she's not convincing as a leader and driving force.

The duo she's chasing fare much better. David Murdoch and Jules Hope, played by Philip Glenister and MyAnna Buring, respectively, are on the run together but they aren't friends.

A.D. Kingdom and Empire (2015)

A.D. Kingdom and Empire (2015)

Dirs. Ciaran Donnelly (Eps 01, 02, 03) / Tony Mitchell (Eps 04, 05, 06) / Brian Kelly (Eps 07, 08) / Rob Evans (09, 10) / Paul Wilmshurst (11, 12)  | 12 episodes, approx 45 mins each.

Also known as A.D. The Bible Continues, it's a continuation of The Bible: Miniseries (2013) with the same dramatic stylings as before, but lacks the v/o narration this time.

It begins by retelling the crucifixion story and then moves onto the fifth book of The New Testament, the Acts of the Apostles, showing how the religious message outlives the man who was sent to deliver it.

The vast jumps through differing eras that made up the first half of the previous miniseries aren't an issue this time - it's now one lengthy multi-part story with the same characters in the closing episode as were in the opening one, but it suffers from the same belief system 'promotion' that I feel weakened the latter half of the earlier series.