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Avstand ‘Guess What's Burning’ Forces of Satan Rec |
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Busy fretwork is the main
priority of the sound here, that and the lo fi rough and ready
production so relevant to the very lowest level of underground act.
The guitar work dominates this otherwise average primitive Black
Metal template. The fast/ slow arrangements drag you on a journey
through the very capable root formula attested by Strid and
Forgotten Woods many moons ago. There is nothing new where, just an
orthodox well balance set of songs that pay homage to the freezing
atmospheres of the TRUE Black Metal style. It is a demo that you
will need to play a few times to grasp the twists and occasional odd
moments [like trumpet], but overall this promising band have a good |
| foundation to
build upon.
http://forcesofsatan.ithinkmusic.com/my-store/index.php?s=3VMcj6 |
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Black Majesty ‘Seventh King Of Edom’ 7” EP Death
Rituals |
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The swastika woven into
the bands logo is a throw back to the early Norwegian scenes naivety
towards the popular perception of such symbolism. Of course the
ancient pagan symbol is always the get out, unless there is a
blatant NS philosophy of which I have no idea this band retains or
not. Whatever the reason for having such a politically silly image,
musically, Black Majesty simmer in a ritualistic bleakness of rich
and deeply brooding Black Metal. The first track on the slab of 7”
plastic is, Thus Singeth the Sword of Curse, Key of Truth, and you
are catapulted into the charcoal stained atmosphere of the early
nineties Norwegian scene. More precisely that wholly emphatic first
Emperor demo. Here we have |
| a menacingly
rich, albeit primitive Black Metal song that just oozes pure menace.
Thin guitar drones sweep upon swooning keyboards to form a
ritualistic hymn to the night. The music lacks the dynamism of
Emperor, preferring a more hypnotic dragging atmosphere. The
following track, Ad Portas Mortis, is like a score from the movie,
The Exorcist, complete with eerie chanting and mesmerising rhythms.
It could be a short soundtrack to a Satanic Coven of beastly orgies
and rape. Flip the cold slab of plastic over and we are greeted with
the equally trance inducing, Shemhamphorasch!, a song that drips
macabre ambience and its soothing unease leads you into the final
Black Metal tumult of, From the Kingdoms of Edom, Come Ye Forth!.
This track would sit quite comfortably on Satyricon’s, Dark Medieval
Times and has all the enigmatic ingredients of just how wonderfully
evil the Norwegian scene was in its embryonic stages. This release
[forgetting the silly swastika] is an essential purchase for any
Black Metal enthusiast. |
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Gorgoroth ‘Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt’
Regain Records |
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So here it is, the eighth
Gorgoroth album and the phoenix it seems has been reborn. With the
mass media hype of the Infernus/ Gaahl dispute now over, it is a
question of where do this great band stand now? Firstly I shall not
try to compare it with the previous, Ad Majorem Sathanas Gloriam.
That was an album where Gorgoroth ascended to heights I feel will
never be reached in terms of progressive finely tuned Black Metal
perfection. Ad Majorem.. sits along side Mayhems, Ordo Ad Chao, as
one of the modern great Black Metal albums. Now, for this latest
Gorgoroth offering [which sounds very classic era Gorgoroth] I will
set it on an equal footing with two other recent Norwegian releases.
I shall |
forget its
Gorgoroth and absorb it as a new band striving to be noticed in an
overcrowded scene. The other albums are, Pantheon I, and Urgehal.
Here is where we get an interesting balance to the new Gorgoroth
album as it has none of the progressive flair or dynamism of the
quite brilliant Pantheon I, album. When sat next to the new Urgehal
release we get a similar balance of old school icy Black Metal and
here Gorgoroth show their blazing ability to encapsulate the air
with menace. The point I am making is Gorgoroth are pure and simply
Norwegian Black Metal at its very best. Unadulterated primitivism
without being swallowed by the urge to progress further than they
dare.
This new album has shed its post Black Metal nuances and regressed
back into where it feels most comfortable. The tracks here are not
necessary fast, although we do get a degree of snare hammering. The
main strengths of Quantos Possunt… is the claustrophobic grave bound
gloom that mantles the music to generate a haunting two tone
atmosphere. The vocals of Pest just ooze raw minimalism, and that’s
just what Gorgoroth do best. The band may never reach the brilliance
of the Gaahl fronted, Majorem Sathanas Gloriam, but here we have the
very charcoal embers of a movement that started twenty years ago. |
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Helland |
Here’s some of the self released albums of Helland, the solo project
of Trond [also involved with Stridsmenn, Borgaholt, Austkrigar] A
prolific song writer and intriguing member of the Norwegian Black
Metal community. Here
are a few of the most recent releases from this band. |
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Den Onde
Sirkel [2006]
This is a very well crafted Black Metal release [a collection of
demo tracks recorded between 2003-2006] The raw melodies collide
with Viking style moods and the songs, for the most part, are catchy
and very easy to absorb. This has to be the most accomplished
Helland release with its frigid Nordic heart beating though the
frost riven tracks, Den Onde Sirkel, Da Sista Slaget v.1, Immortal,
and the instrumentals, Minne Del 1 & 2. There are some lacklustre
electronic sounding songs, but overall this is highly recommended.
I Ein Dal Tå Stein [2007]
The ambient intro disintegrates into a melodic black metal haze with
gruff vocals and a very up-beat , almost punk imbued atmosphere.
Think New Model Army splintering into a Hawkwind energetic mind
burst. Its simple enough and yet strangely post Black Metal
progression.
The aptly titled Album VI [2007]
This is a shock to the system as we transcend Black Metal in favour
is of a New Romantic style of electronic straddled music. Kraftwerk
meets Nordic melodies streaming though an awkward Scandinavian folk
meets industrialist club beats. This is far from the Black Metal
chaos Helland are capable of and it is a release that is no doubt an
experimental side to its creators personal agenda.
Årstider [2009]
Hammond organ, synths and an overall warm ambience sets the scene
for this release. Melodic soothing instrumentals break the air with
gentle harmless atmospheres that swoon into fairground bizarreness
and circus eccentricities where the music melts into a kaleidoscope
of swishy soundscapes and spinning vibrations. There are acoustic
guitars that creep into the mix to break up the albums very
distinctive tone. It’s a strange yet enjoyable work that again
reveals Tronds interest in musical compositions outside the Black
Metal rage from whence he came.
www.myspace.com/hellandnorway |
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Kvist ‘For Kunsten Maa Vi Evig Vike’ [re-issue]
Peaceville |
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A welcome re-issue from
one of the most outstanding Norwegian Black Metal bands of them all.
Kvist came and went in the blink of an eye. A mysterious entity that
released one album in 1996 and disappeared into the smog of ash and
murder. This is a beautifully majestic symphonic album that manages
to steer clear of the pomp and keyboard overload of Dimmu Borgir and
somehow retain a massively ruthless guitar sound. The keyboards are
kept to a minimum and yet somehow this massive guitar sound has a
unique and enchanting spell to weave about your emotions. The Black
Metal vitriol is both fast and dynamic and yet the whole spitting
rage is tempered by the wonderfully rich arrangements |
| and easy to
grasp melody. This is like a fine whiskey that will blow your head
off without ripping the hell out of your insides. Musically
primitive, unbelievably simple, and yet oozing stability and finely
tuned guitar arrangements. Lush strident guitar tones sweep fierce
riffs at your ears like hellish icy shards raining down from a
holocaust blizzard. This is an absolute credit to the genre and a
true classic of the Black Metal movement. Like a fine wine, albums
like this will never date and if you have not already heard this
then you should dip your head in a bucket of priests piss in shame.
www.peaceville.com |
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Mistur ‘Attende’ Einheit Produktionen |
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Black Folk Viking Metal is
the phrase that does not justify the music here. Symphonic Black
Metal is more to the point. The Norwegian scene at present offers
some stunning bands. There are the icy creative brilliance of
Koldbraan, Sarkom, Abomino Aetas, and Kaosritual. Then we get the
more melodic neck ripping of Pantheon I, Krypt, as well as the more
established bands that need no introductions. Then we get the less
awe-inspiring but nonetheless reliable bands like Posthum, Orcustus,
Gravdal, [well, the list is pretty extensive] So where do Mistur fit
in the teeming Norwegian scene at present?
Here we have a band formed in 2003 from various members of Sigtyr,
Windir and |
| Mykgrav. The
sound is, from the start, worshiping Emperor's Nightside Eclipse in
tone and atmosphere. But this isn’t a carbon copy of Emperor as
Mistur have a certain spark that ignites this album into their own
agenda. Attende, is an album layered wonderfully rich keyboard
arrangements and form the very first track, Slaget, we are taken on
a meandering journey through thick strident guitar strums,
shimmering Taake style guitar jams and piano sections that create
pockets of ambience throughout this release. The following, Svartsyn,
is an eight minute reminder of just how majestic and viciously
tempered early Emperor was and how that classic sound can be
reinvented here. There are no instantly genre defining tracks like
the mighty, Blashyrkh (Mighty Ravendark), Mother North, I am the
Black Wizards, or Funeral Fog. But of all the tracks here, the
finest has to be the catchy Skuld. It still follows the albums basic
guitar/ keyboard flow and yet is endowed with a great hook and
rhythmic keyboard arrangement. The vocals are familiar Nordic snarls
and although music here is still very much full of bite and
aggression, it is all wrapped in that symphonic beauty that takes
away the jagged edges and creates a gleaning musical shine. There is
a reworked version of "Skoddefjellet" originally found on the 2005
demo of the same name. The album ends with the thirteen minute,
Attende, and it is just a recap on all that has appeared previously.
Mistur are the type of band that will keep the Norwegian Black Metal
scene alive in this modern age.
www.einheit-produktionen.de |
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Pantheon I ‘ Worlds I Create’ Candlelight Records |
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This is the closet thing
you will get the latter stages of Emperor's high octane epileptic
technical post Black Metal. This album is so hyperactive it makes
the likes of Marduk seem positively lethargic. Caustic blasting
percussion, razor sharp guitar riffs and solid fluency shovels the
intensity into your ears like a steam train boiler thundering into
the jaws of mayhem. Of course this hasn’t the finesse of genius of
Emperor and it certainly does not try to copy the style, but the
concept is the same. To achieve such a rage bursting from a musical
squall of hammering snares and gut hacking vocal rasps need quality
musicianship and we get that in abundance here. The addition of
violin is a master stroke as this |
| lamentable
instrument glides across the chaos to create a wonderful atmosphere.
The music permeates the air with a unique take on the Black Metal
theme and evokes a kind of vicious take on the Dissection/ Hypocrisy
formula shredded through a progressive kaleidoscope. There is little
subtlety here as the whole release goes for the throat from the off,
so if you suffer from palpitations steer well clear of this. |
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Skitliv - Skandinavisk Misantropi ‘Season of Mist’ |
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The twisted creation of
Maniac [Mayhem], along side the manic depressive Niklas "Kvarforth"
Olsson [Shining]. This is Black Doom Metal crawling from the putrid
remains of pure despondency. This is way more accessible than the
twisted psychotic soul of the 2008, Amfetamin mcd. Here we have that
initial doom coldness generated by Cathedral's debut ‘Forest of
Equilibrium. Such is the masterful plod created here. This is
strangely addictive, bleak Doom Metal that casts a net over raw
misery and hauls it into your ears. The guttural vocals cement the
atmosphere with the chill of death as lazy bass lines weave that
Sabbath doom familiarity. With guest vocalists Gaahl, and Attila
Csihar, this whole |
| brooding DOOM
release hits all the right buttons. The tracks do not linger too
long on the same level of twisted anguish as this album has many
contorted expressions of bitter woe. Skitliv are far more intriguing
than Nortt or Skeptisism, and yet share a similar fluency of dread
atmospheres wrung though a groove tainted mangle. |
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Thundra ‘Ignored by Fear’ Einheit
Produktionen |
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Featuring members of
Enslaved, Evig Natt, Throne of Katarsis and having formed in 1998,
this is the bands third album and it is a progressive form of the
Black Viking metal theme. From the first track, Inner Struggle, we
are pounded by a sharp thick guitar sound and viciously caustic
vocals surges. The similarities to Borknagar are at times too close
for comfort, especially when the Garm style clean vocal chants
temper the intensity this album generates. The tracks range from
fast blasting Gothenburg clarity to mid-tempo Nordic flair.
Keyboards also lift the music into its more epic levels and yet the
overall sound is extremely aggressive and littered with meandering
arrangements and numerous vocals |
| ranges. We get
those Blackened snarls and clean chants, and also deathly grunts and
barks. The technical ability of this band is shown in full on the
eight minute, Storm Within, and one can consume the full force of
this wholly Scandinavian Viking Metal tumult. We can also see other
influences from the best parts of Enslaved and Einherjer,
accelerated and intensified to create this highly polished dense
sound.
www.einheit-produktionen.de |
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Taake ‘Over Bjoergvin Graater Himmerik’ [re-issue]
Peaceville |
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Originally appearing in
2002, this Taake release is basically what you would expect from a
Taake album. Meandering raw primitive arrangements that freeze your
mind with caustic riffs and uplifting piano twists. The Taake sound
is one very much woven in the distinct Norwegian style similarly
harnessed by the early works of Old Mans Child, Windir, Kvist, to
name a few. The music is endowed with a progressive touch, with
Enslaved articulate song creativity on albums like, Monumension, and
Blodhemn, equally more impressive than the standard orthodox Black
Metal style. This release is far more fluent than the 1999 debut,
Nattestid Ser Porten Vid. The vocals here are quite scathing and
reminded me of |
| Garms spitting
rage vocal rasps. Certain tracks like, 1V, have that Hoest trademark
jamming guitar strumming section. He has an ear for melody and this
is worked into the music. Norwegian Black Metal is a classy genre
teeming with good bands and great bands. Taake are of the latter
category and although the music at times requires patience to
unravel the twisting arrangements, the music nonetheless will be
exposed as a pure strain of the purest Black Metal of them all.
Incidentally, Bjoergvin is a former name of Bergen. The meaning of
the title is ''Heaven Cries over Bjoergvin (Bergen)
www.peaceville.com |
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Urgehal ‘Ikonoklast’ Season of Mist |
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Album number six and this
reliable Norwegian Black Metal band offer much of what you can
expect from their no nonsense, harsh but to the point, primitive
style. The band is home to members that have frequented Beastcraft,
Dim Nagel, Krypt, Kvist, Koldbraan, Enthral Vidsyn, Endstille,
Pantheon I, Sarkom, and others. This band have been a steadfast
catalyst of Norwegian Black Metal since its conception way back in
1992. Like Taake, Urgehal have strayed little from the raw abrasive
music generally accepted as common place for the Black Metal
community. All the previous albums are reliable, albeit pretty
average rough and ready releases. Perhaps that’s why this band has
never been embraced outside the |
| underground
like fellow countrymen, Keep of Kalessin, Dodheimsgard, Limbonic
Art, and, Khold, all of whom share a semi-notoriety status below the
main level of infamy that is attributed to, Mayhem, Darkthrone,
Immortal and the few others who are at the top of the pecking order.
Urgehal are a dirty ugly beast oozing a macabre atmosphere and
spitting a similar vibe in terms of guitar arrangements as Taake
imploding with Kreator and early Slayer. The music is smooth and
catchy yet still caustic enough to slay all who come into contact
with it. This is ugly orthodox Black Metal made a bit more
attractive with great song craft and memorable songs. |
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