A History Of Norwegian Black Metal

Dies Irae ‘Circle of Leth’ vinyl Paniac Records
	A long lost gem in the Norwegian Black Metal crown is unearthed [albeit on shamelessly limited vinyl] Dies Irae, were a band that appeared in 1994 with one demo, Circle of Leth, and promptly vanished without trace. Now that can be said of many a demo act, but to vanish and leave behind a demo of this magnificence is quite astonishing. This demo is registered in the top demo list as well as the top 100 list so I will just repeat what is written there. The intro here is one of the finest you will ever hear. Completely classically arranged, this is utterly awesome and as the rest of this demo will testify, here we discover another demo
that has been lost in the manipulative mists of time. Remember, it is the few labels who dictate what you consume, and many a demo of better quality is ignored in favour of lesser acts with more marketing value. There is a magnificent medieval pomp etched into the initial intro, which is in fact a track proper, such is its mesmerizing quality. From this elegant start, leaps the most unexpected rush of sublime chaos, a Norwegian Black Metal squall of lashing guitar rhythm’s and tempestuous vocal malevolence. The orchestral arrangement is always present, lifting the forlorn melodies into the vast blustering symphonic magnificence. Similar in texture to the eccentricities of Tartaros, and kindred spirits with Obtained Enslavements ‘Witchcraft’ era, Dies Irae amass a truly awe inspiring sound. Here the flurry of angst is almost devoured at once by a church like organ and swooshing synth effects, creating an alluring flame of medieval rousing moods awash with Black Metal extravagance. When I first heard this demo I was quite aghast at its integrity and completely mature songcraft. There is an epic majesty surmounting the music here, a vast complex orchestral embodiment to the raw underbelly of grizzled vocals and hammering percussion. A lost masterpiece in every respect.

Eternity ‘Bringer of the Fall’ cd
	Eternity by name and band, one man with one passion for finely crafted Black Metal. Eternity can take its roots back to the Black/Doom project [In Silence] he formed with Mayhem's, Blasphemer back in 1992. With Blasphemer moving on to join ranks with Mayhem, Eternity joined forces with Punisher, and formed the Thrash motivated Nuctemeron, releasing the Angel of Destruction demo in 1997. A second In Silence demo, The Suicide Revolution, appeared in 1999, only to disappear just as fast. Eternity was then born as a band incarnate, releasing the In Subspecies Aeterna, demo in 2003, and a second demo, To Become the Great Best, in 2005. Here we have the current
full length Bringer of the Fall, a blistering modern upheaval of the orthodox Black Metal sound of the mid-nineties. The vocal delivery is more deathly rasps than black metal snarl, and this lifts the atmosphere from bleak gloom to bloodied storm clad angst. This has the same application of technicality as fellow countrymen Pantheon I, Slavia and Nidingr. These acts have a very substantial Black Metal soul, and yet the inner darkness is open to many outside influences, thus driving the sound away from the TRUE Black Metal fuzz of the more one dimensional outfits. I have no idea of the availability of this release, but you can down load three tracks from the bands web site. www.nuctemeron.com/eternity/insubspecies.htm

Forgotten Woods ‘Race of Cain’ ATMF
	A band who are resolute in the foundations of the Norwegian Black Metal scene. True underground exponents of raw, chilling musical impiety. This release appears eleven years since the bands last album, The Curse of Mankind, and over sixteen years since the band formed. With a stronger production, the band has arisen from the stygian shore to shower your minds with a bold sonic tapestry of austere melodies imbued with unhallowed intent. An uneasy intro of distortion and biblical anecdotes gives way to the hypnotic guitar arrangement that makes up the first track proper. There is no bass, and very little percussion. Just a guitar and grizzled vocal delivery. The very abstract, primitivism of this
surprising song reveals much of what this album revolves around, and that is an experimental post- Black Metal journey woven within mesmeric frequencies set to an orthodox Black Metal platform. Next up, the snapping Black Metal Forgotten Woods are renowned for. Here we discover the raw, Burzum ethos of dolorous guitar strains melting from an icy low-fi dissonance. Like the current Trelldom album, the faster songs here are fluent raw Black Metal. Between the standard Black Metal tumult, there are the more slower tracks, the simmering guitar sections that at times veer into a stoner rock moments and even spaced out sections. There are even dreamy moments with female vocals where a serene atmosphere is generated amongst the surrounding Blackened carnage. The album ends with a theological debate between an evangelical zealot and what seems to be an equally radical Darwinist. It’s a poignant end to a very thought provoking end to a likewise thought provoking album. Like the recent Dodheimsgard album, here beckons another stimulating discordant metal release. www.myspace.com/forgottenwoods \| www.atmf.net/

Mare ‘Throne of the Thirteenth Witch’ EP Nordcult Rituals - Limited to 500
	I just love these limited vinyl’s, even today they remind me of the very first Dimmu Borgir, Gehenna, and Ancient, EPs, bursting with raw energy and a very personal Band/Fan relationship. That lost ‘Fuck off we don’t care’ philosophy still rings true here, and that is just pure underground. Mare, are one of the up-and coming bands who had a demo reviewed a few months ago in these pages. This two track EP, starts with the very distinctive style of Norway 1993, and the track, Black Magick Funeral, slithers forth from its ice bound tomb. Here we can instantly trace Emperor’s, Wrath of the Tyrant demo, in tone and texture. The track bursts
into life during the last few minutes and the guitar strum is beautifully macabre. The flip side contains the title track, a similar classy Black Metal workout, well balanced between fast/slow arrangements. Just close your eyes and you could be walking through Oslo on a cold, biting morning, with Euronymous and Varg standing out side the Helvete shop. Such is the sense of authenticity on the recording process, this could well be 1993 revisited. http://nordkult.bloodchalice.org/

Selvmord ‘Sorg’ demo 2005

This demo has been around for a few years now, and has a deliberate drum machine pounding in the mix. The first track bites you in the arse like a pit-bull, making a very stark declaration that this has a very Thrash meets choppy Death style riff guitar sound and a barking mad vocal rasp. From this simple yet effective foundation follows a more refined, yet none less abrasive Deathly aural squall. The liner notes cite the French band Mutilation and the Swedish act Shinning as influences here, and that is a very good anchor to hold the music down to. The third track is just hideous, a no doubt deliberate creative process to antagonize and fuck with your head. Deranged lunatic asylum vocals bark and snarl over a very distant drum blast [all drum machine thumps and snaps by the way], and it is a constant maddening aural melee of virulent guitars and thumping drum patterns, a totally anguished emission of torturous lamentation. To close the demo, a sludge like guitar drone is hooked to a likewise throat rattle vocal delivery. This plodding gloom ridden track is a fitting closer to a rather obscure demo.

Stillhet ‘Dømt At Have Sit Liv Forbrudt’ Osmose Productions
	This MCD, is a big step out of the funereal mire the bands previous release languished in. The icy guitar strains are bolstered with a thicker sound, the cold distant atmosphere is lifted into a fiery tumult with raging guitar strums belting out their busy drones into sharp burst of vehemence. The tight, fluent production melts away the icy shroud that adorned the 2004, Gjemt I Skyggenne, demo cd. The more disciplined sound has given the music a solid Black Metal vitriolic sting, and yet that distinctive Nordic embodiment of hollow abandon has disappeared. Such is the leap from demo hollowness to label polished packaging. The four tracks here begin with the ferociousness of Gorgoroth melting into a standard race
to the finish, head levelling extreme metal. It is the last two tracks that really bring this mcd to life. Here we have great songwriting, great riffs and a really exceptional musicianship. The track, Vemod Og Skam, is pure, a true Norwegian Black metal track that evokes a wonderful sense of euphoric classic era Norwegian Black Metal, where you can trace certain parts of Gorgoroth, Pentagram, opus haunting the melodies. The final track, Den Ugudelige, is also one hypnotic slow burning Black Metal masterpiece. It is no wonder, Osmose plucked this band from the magma veined clefts of the underground. So get this little gem, get wasted by the first two rib cracking songs, and then be serenaded by two precision Black Metal tracks. http://stillhetnorge.com/

Urgehal/Beastcraft split 7” vinyl. Black Seed Productions
	Two of the most exciting bands in the Norwegian Black Metal scene at the moment. Urgehal, the senior band of the two and one I am sure you will be familiar with. Their brand of rousing melodic Black Metal is set in equal measure between raw fast parts and up-lifting guitar jams. Beastcraft, are just astute disciples in their deployment of cadaverous brooding Hell rooted Metal. Beastcraft offer a wonderfully atmospheric track in the form of Blackwinged Messiah. Here we find a band enriched by a unique style, flowing through a ghoulish artery of bloodless pale atmosphere. Beastcraft are unashamedly locked to the scenes very early awakenings.
The music is one dimensional, beautifully veiled in trance-inducing rhythms, and completely shrouded in a caliginous atmosphere. Urgehal, offer a more stripped down version of what they usually do. The track Nekromisantrop, is an up-beat-mid tempo track that is pretty much as basic and Hell born as can be expected. Urgehal have the experience and the tightness to hold a track together and decimate the skull to bone dust, but it is Beastcraft who have the ability to generate a truly chilling atmosphere and by doing so, captivate the mind with a menace rarely aroused nowadays. This is a magnificent EP, featuring two very impressive bands. www.beastcraft.com/ \| www.blackseedprod.com/