A History Of Norwegian Black Metal

Burzum ‘Stemmen Fra Tarnet’ Digi CD Northern Twilight Records
	A bootleg collection of early re-mastered demo’s and embracing a sound that equates such. The sound here is absolutely terrible, a stifled, distant bedroom recording that’s only appeal is for the historical value to hardcore Burzum fans and completists. The 91’ demo has no vocals, and serves as a very early document of Burzum's existence. Primitive, raw and surprisingly slow, the brooding, Lost Wisdom, the very Burzum rolling drum arrangements of Spell of Destruction, and the ambient keyboard piece, Channelling the Power of Souls into a new God. These three tracks serve, alongside Mayhems ‘Dead’ era rehearsals, as the very earliest
embodiment of Norwegian Black Metal. You can hear the music’s primordial essence simmering within the fetid guitar chords. Vargs unique vocal style appears next on the equally slow burning, Ett Hvit Lys over Skogen. A raw, confused version of Once Emperor follows. This reveals a twisted, unbalanced side to Burzum, and one that befits the dire sound. The following Seven Harmonies of Unknown Truth, Ea Lord of the Depths, and Rite of Cleansure, [a narrative of odd Varg ramblings] are the worst of the recordings, bass heavy and for most Black Metal fans, totally pointless. The cd also features the video tracks, Dunkelheit, and a Norwegian TV Documentary. So, here is an obscure release that will cater for fans of the obscure and little else.

Burzum ‘Spell of Destruction’ 7” EP
	This is Burzum sounding as bad as Burzum can sound, like the Emperor, Forgotten Centuries EP, the tracks here are culled from material that was never meant to be for general release. The sound is pretty damn awful, unless you are into the muffles demos that circulate in the deepest bowls of the underground. The two tracks here, Feeble Screams For Forests Unknown, and A Lost Forgotten Sad Spirit, are well enough known Burzum tracks. Both appear on the debut self titled album in a far more cohesive form. The tracks have Vargs unholy vocals, so at least we don’t have to suffer the instrumental versions.
As a Historical document, the tracks do harness a fixed point in time when the whole Norwegian Black Metal scene had yet to burst upon the world. The cover of the burnt out church is striking, and we get a very young Varg [wearing a Von shirt] pic on the back to remind us that the main players in the scene were just teenagers, and not the seemingly sinister monsters the media inevitably would portray them to be.

Dead To This World ‘Dominions of Hell’ 7” EP- Iron Pegasus Records [limited to 500]
	This is a re-release of the 2005 demo of the same name, and features the three tracks, Goatpower, Dead to this World, and, Pacifist/Terorist. The band was formed by ex Immortal bassist, Iscariah, who has been active in the Norwegian Black Metal scene since 1992, originally in the band Enchanted, amongst others, and his most notable stint was with, Immortal, on the bands latter albums. This new band is fuelled by a thrash ignited Black Metal soul, with barking vocals and a very melodic set of tracks. There seems to be a lot of this retro regenerative outfits appearing from the Nordic mists of late. Here, the snappy snares, and equally snappy riffs
roll along at a thrashing speed, and nowadays that isn’t really that fast. [not when you compare the likes of Destruction to Marduk] The Black Metal malevolence is traded for a more energetic, modern take on a well trodden path. If you are into the Thrash side of extreme metal then the music here is more than capable of rattling your bullet belt and shredding the seams of your denim waistcoat.

Dimension F3H ‘Does the Pain Excite you? Dark Essence Records
	Featuring, Morfeus [Limbonic Art], the style of fast post Black Metal here, can be likened to numerous electronica imbued acts, namely Arcturus, Ulver, Limbonic Art, Troll, and most obviously, The Kovenant, during their Animatroinc/seti era. The aforementioned bands, all carve a cyber path out side the elemental underbelly of Black Metal. This is the bands second album, the first, Reaping the World Winds, appearing in 2003 on Hammerheart Records. Here we are attacked by furious riffs, swooning modern electronics, harsh vocals, and a prog rock style of theatrics [without the high pitched vocals] There is a very deliberate Thrash influence running through the arrangements and the guitars
rarely subdued by the electronica side to the band. Black Metal this is not. Again, the Kovenant is the best comparison to what we have here.

Emperor ‘Forgotten Centuries’ 7” EP.
	Here we have an absolutely, "recorded in a tin" sounding live rehearsal from 1991. The tracks in question being, Ancient Queen, and The Usurper [Celtic Frost]. Ancient Queen, can be found on the more ear pleasing, Wrath of the Tyrant, CD. The most interesting track is the Celtic Frost cover, the band already having covered the Hellhammer track, Massacre, for the Dwell Records Celtic Frost Tribute cd. So, here we find more evidence of just how influential the Swiss band were, perhaps more so than Venom and Bathory. The track is how you would expect a demo era Emperor to play it, raw, caustic and utterly inflammable. If you are a glutton for noise, and dismal live rehearsal recordings, then this EP
will brighten up your day.

Isafjord/Nest split cd Thundra Records
	Released in 2001, with Nest, the Finnish acoustic/ambient band. Isafjords, ‘The Unseen Passage’ titled side, is basically the bands 1998 demo of the same name. The sound is decent enough, clear and raw. Isafjord play to their own set of rules, combining primitive Black Metal arrangements with folkish elements and brooding atmospheric sections. The keyboard element is always present, with acoustic guitars and even female vocals adding to the brooding atmospheres. For the most part, the music is mid-paced, enraptured by scathing barking vocals. The songs are generally twisted with ambient passages, creating a fusion of harsh and smooth textures. This is not the primitive Black Metal of the Gorgoroth
or Urgehal variety. Here we have a more melodic, calmer style of blackened music. The band sits quite comfortably alongside Ulvhender, Galdrer, and Windir. Nest, are a more ambient act. The music is mostly folk-inspired, with the Kantele as the lead instrument, helped by keyboards, bass, and occasional drums. Vocals are whispered over the music, like wind blowing through a forest. You can lay back and close your eyes to the sweeping gentleness of the music and be taken to otherworldly citadels, where death is but a blink of times eye, and the mists of forever enshroud your every breath. [get the picture?] Think Wongraven, and you will find Nest. As a split cd, the value is equally shared by the two bands, as both display a unique and passionate take on the pagan inspired side to Black Metal. The Isafjord demo can be downloaded at http://home.chello.no/~ttollefs/

Malsain ‘The Disease’ Dark Essence Records
	Hailing from Bergen, this is the bands second album, and continues pretty much down the same dreary path as its downcast predecessor, They Never Die. Dark, haunting melodies are set to a clean sound, with agonizing songs that unearth catchy melodies from the damp, squalid atmospheres. The harsh scowling vocals cascade off the dreamy keyboards, evoking a clash of tempos that evokes a colourless atmosphere of contagious malaise. With fast sections making momentary appearances, it is the dominant plodding drums that steer this album towards its gloom embittered end. A modern metal album that transcends the murky bane of the underground. There is a very tight, well oiled machine slithering through
lamenting mires of atonal despond. The cover depicts the famous exorcist of the same titled film, a harrowing dark image that manifests into the music. Cold, chilling and instigating a climate of continuous doom infected modern dark Metal. The Black Metal elements burst in during the faster moments where a very Tulus, similarity is noticeable. The more you absorb this album, the more the Tulus, and more importantly, Khold style of sombre guitar arrangements become more obvious. This style of drowsy, lulling malignancy certainly eats through the air and lays its lifeless eggs within your head.

Mayhem ‘War and Sodomy’ Transylvania Records

Now, here’s a wonderful release, limited apparently to 333 copies, this pro-printed live cd is a 1990 recording from Mayhem. There a few ‘Dead era’ live releases, the best being the1993 Leipzig gig. Another decent gig is the Dawn of the Black Hearts, live in Sarpsbourg, 1990. General bootleg live recordings are bad soundboard tapes, or bad audience tapes. This is the latter, and yet once you get used to the appalling sound, it kind of endears itself to the ears. Blasting off from the odd shout or two from the few fans present is Deathcrush, and this sets the whole live experience up nicely. Funeral Fog, and Freezing Moon, just send shivers down the spine. Buried by Time and Dust, and Pagan Fears, just confirm what an absolutely astounding album, De Mysteriss was. Here we have Mayhem before they became the pivotal force, alongside Burzum, of the Norwegian Black Metal scene. Not an essential album, as the wonderful, Leipzig release is the definitive ‘Dead’ on vocals Mayhem offering, and yet this hollow sounding release does hold its own charm. For collectors and completists only.

Nettlecarrier Promo 2007
	Featuring Ciekals [LJA], Maanevond [Koldbraan, Urgehal], and Voldawagen. Lyrics by Dirge rep [Orcustus/ Gehenna]. This two track promo reeks of the icy emptiness of bands like Neetzach, Graveland and has a hint of the brooding peculiarities of Ved Buens Ende. Very much a guitar fuelled set of songs with a typical tormented vocal snarl, the music continues a high calibre compositional iciness that the Norwegians have seamlessly maintained for near on two decades now. The music here is wrapped in that cold, primitive shroud, reinventing the orthodox embodiment of Norwegian Black Metal.
The tracks have a well balanced level of intensity, separated by slow and fast sections. The sound is clear, transcending the muggy demo quality one would expect this style of Black Metal to sit quote comfortably in. Contact nettlecarrier666@gmail.com

Nocturnal ‘demo 2004’

On my many cyberspace searches I sometimes come across a demo that I either had no idea existed or thought I would never be able to track down. Here is a band I never knew existed, and I am pleased to have discovered them This 4 track demo harness a similar abrasive style to early Gorgoroth and Emperor. Sizzling guitars, vibrant drums and a very Gaahl like vocal snarl, gives the sound a perfect full on sound. The first track, Death then Glory, blasts past in 2.15 seconds, leaving you little time to take a breath. Intense and full of raging menace, the following Whore of God, just eats up the air with melodic intent. The songs have purpose, direction and are very memorable. With the lumbering Min Trone, shredding the ears with malevolent intent, thick guitar riffs, solid bass chords and a full bodied production, all make this demo a very exceptional release. The Final track, Eternal Darkness, ends the demo as it started, fast and furious to the end as they say. I have no idea who is in the band at this moment and no contact details.

Vomit ‘Still Rotting’ best of compilation Lyderhorn Records
	Released on a limited vinyl album and cd. [this is a review of the vinyl version] Norwegian extreme metal prior to the advent of the Norwegian Black Metal scene is primarily focused on Mayhem, and beyond that there is generally an empty void. To quote the label info ‘The band was most known for their association with Euronymous and Mayhem (two members were briefly in Mayhem in the mid-80's) and their influence on the Norwegian scene. People like Fenriz of Darkthrone and Neddo of Cadaver have named Vomit as among their prime influences’ This vinyl [differing from the cd version, the song "Tormentor" is not included on the LP,
while the song "Death to Children" is not included on the CD. The CD also contains alternate versions of seven tracks. The CD contains both versions of these tracks, while the LP had only the best versions of these tracks picked out. Having appeared in the midst of the Thrash revolution, it is no surprise to discover the music here is very Slayer in tone and depth. The sound is muggy, but by no means terrible. The chugging riffs and snapping snares drift across much of what Slayer and Nuclear Assault were doing on their early works. On closer inspection the songs are actually very well put together and one can imagine the band being very entertaining live. There is none of the darkly menace of Black Metal in the music. This is pure energetic Thrash Metal. There was not much of a scene in Norway during the mid eighties, bands like Vomit, Decay Lust, and Black Mass, remain unknown entities for the most part, with Mayhem being the only notable band of this era. http://spolmask.net/lyderhorn/