|
31. lldjarn - Forest
Poetry 1996 [Norse League Productions]
Sort Vocter - Folkloric Necro Metal 1996 [Norse League] |
 |
Ildjarn [Vidar Vaaer], formerly of cult Norse act, Thou Shalt
Suffer, and contributing factor to the equally minimalist style of
Sort Vokter, [with fellow vocalist Nidhogg], who released the
awesome album, Folkloric Necro Metal in 1996, and numerous albums
under the Ildjarn name.
These two albums epitomise the sound of Ildjarn, with a noise factor
basically taken from the Punk driven guitar chords of Discharge.
Forest Poetry is the most minimalist Black Metal opus you will ever
hear with tracks that average at two minutes and are catapulted into
your ears with ferocious ease. There is little room for
sentimentality with ‘Forest Poetry’, a noisy head fuck of clamorous
music ripped |
from the
bowels of Hell and spat out with blatant disregard for any pat on
the back from the media. Reminds me of the attitude of cult Polish
act, Graveland.
Sort Vocter are likewise messy and bass driven, although the
pounding drum machine and keyboard backing gives this release a
certain charm. I would suggest any Black Metal fan should own this
magnificent album.
The back catalogue reaches back to the first demo of 1992, and
subsequent 7” singles/albums and splits leading up to the present
day. |
| |
|
32. Urgehal - Massive
Terrestrial Strike 1998 [No Colours] |
 |
Featuring a member of the magnificent, Kvist, Urgehel [playing
without keyboards] are worshippers of the ’True’ Norwegian Black
Metal sound. This unwritten law applies to the Darkthrone/Mayhem
style of Black Metal. After releasing some demos in 1994/95, the
band sighed to the infamous ‘No Colours’ label, home to Graveland
and champions of the so called New Socialist Black Metal bands.
The bands debut album, Arma Christi [1997], was a raw, Darkthrone
style of chaotic Black Metal, arguably followed by the bands finest
moment, the highly addictive song craft of Massive Terrestrial
Strike in 1998. This had certain accessibility to the raging
material |
that swirled
in hateful aural bile. The album is only 36 minutes in duration, but
the 7 tracks claw up the atmosphere with rabid ferocity.
Through Fog Till Death, [Agonia/ Southern Lord]
is a close second, with a faster and more controlled collection of
melodic vicious black metal. Goatcraft Torment, released in 2006 is
much of the same, with the tracks having a more melodic edge. |
| |
|
33. Zyklon B - Blood Must Be
Shed 1995 [Malicious Records] |
 |
Featuring Emperors Samoth
& Ihsahn, (the band also featured, Frost, and Aldrahn) this side project was clinical
and direct via its ruthless atmosphere of war inspired Black Metal.
Although airing just 3 tracks, this mcd was a blasting cacophony of
relentless hate inspired Black Metal.
No doubt the very band name was designed to cause outrage and cast
subliminal fascist reminders of where the Norwegian Black Metal
scene evolved,
a taboo long associated with the Norwegian Black Metal scene, but
one generally suppressed by the numerous bands seeking the glory and
riches of the capitalist media market. Zyklon B, also succumbed to
the very pursuit of such rewards by dropping the ‘B’ and carving a
very |
| quality album
in the form of ‘World Ov Worms’ in 2001
[Candlelight Records] Funny what the lure of financial gain can do
for the soul! |
| |
|
34. Isvind - Dark Waters
Stir 1996 [Solistitium Records] |
 |
Formerly Icewind [a demo
Nivelheimen was released under that name in 1993], the band issued
the Herskerinnen Promo `94, and joined the German based Solistitium
label. The bands only album, Dark Waters Stir, appeared in 1996 and
contained some straight forward Norwegian Black Metal. The band
released three very impressive demos, from 1992-1994.
Orthodox Black Metal played at lightning speed, with momentary
slower sections to add depth to the raging aural chaos. Isvind have
a raw Gorgoroth/ Dark Funeral, sound, and the |
decisive,
Norwegian Black Metal style is very well executed. This is one of
those albums where every track is solid, memorable and very well
delivered, as opposed to an album with a few great tracks set
amongst mediocre fillers. [Unfortunately it’s the mediocre albums
with the few amazing tracks that tend to be remembered]
‘Dark Waters Stir’, is a competent, simplistic album of harsh,
melodic Norwegian Black Metal. |
| |
|
35. Windir - Arntor 1999 [Head Not Found] |
 |
The Black/Viking metal of Winidr had been relatively unknown
outside the underground since 1995, and only the tragic death of
Terje "Valfar" Bakken, from Hypothermia in January 2004, halted the
bands steady rise to greater notoriety [although ironically, the
band has received such notoriety from Valfars demise anyway]
Of the bands 4 full-length albums, each having a resolute primordial
Nordic feel, each release being of stronger composition and depth.
The 1999 release ‘Arntor’ is arguably the bands finest album,
although the following, 1184 and Likferd, albums are of likewise
passionate and quality Norse inspired pagan metal. The early Ulver/Borknagar
influences |
| are ingrained
throughout the music, although the band have such a dynamic scale of
harsh/ atmospheric music, it is at the end of the day, pure Winidr. |
| |
|
36. Odium - The Sad Realm of
the Stars 1998 [Nocturnal Art Productions] |
 |
A late addition to the
Norwegian Black Metal legacy of the nineties, and a band with only
one album to their credit. But, what a virulent and nasty piece of
raw symphonic Black Metal it is. With a sound leaning towards a
dirtier Emperor, fast ragged songs and wonderfully severe
atmospheres, this bold attempt at creating that majestic black metal
sound to my mind has manifested steadfast into this one release.
Odium are one of those bands, [formed in 1994], like many others who
deserve more than the passing glimpse afforded by the fans who to no
fault of their own probably never knew they existed in the first
place. The album was actually recorded between 1996-98, and due to
many delays |
| never appeared
until 1998. One could surmise that if the album had been released
when originally scheduled, its impact may have been far greater. |
| |
|
37. Ragnarok - Arising
Realm 1997 [Head Not Found] |
 |
The bands debut album in 1995 was the ruthless, Nattferd album. A
typically rugged, Darkthrone fashioned slab of cold black metal.
The bands following release was the highly impressive.
Arising realm in.1997. This album featured, Dimmu Borgirs Shagrath
on keyboards, and the overall atmosphere created is one of highly
listenable semi-symphonic Black Metal. The keyboards are never
dominant, yet evoke the finer points of classic era Gehenna. With
subsequent albums, Diabolical Age in 2000 [a more ferocious and less
creative album], In Nominee Satanas, [2002] and, Backdoor Miracle
[Regain Records] all having good qualities, with the music being
faster and more polished, it is with ‘Arising |
| Realms’ that
Ragnaroks true work of art rests. |
| |
|
38. Tsjuder - Desert
Northern Hell 2004 [Season of Mist] |
 |
Pronounced ‘Shoe-der’ and I’ve been going around saying Tsjuder’!!
This new age Norwegian Black Metal band oozes that unmistakable low-fi
production that instinctively evokes the early works of Darkthrone
and Satyricon. Tsjuder are a stunning band taking their monstrous
sound from the doom chords of Celtic Frost, no nonsense Immortal
thrash attacks all mixed together to hypnotize the listener with
mid-tempo brooding songs that slither against the meandering walls
of Hell. The compositions are of such a high quality and represent
such a seemingly lost art of Black Metal authenticity. From the Ved
Ferdens Ende demo of 1995, through to the debut album, Kill For
Satan, in 2000, the band have |
lurked in the
deepest underground recesses. The most recent release, Desert
Northern Hell, is a testimony to a band in full blackened flight and
a stark reminder that the true flame of Norwegian black metal is not
only burning bright, but still relevant in today’s multi-layered,
cliché driven scene of irrelevant sub-genres and monotonous recycled
sounds.
The band have now sadly split up, with one of the members, Nag,
going on to form the band Krypt. |
| |
|
39. Taake - Doedskvad 2005 [Dark Essence Records] |
 |
Formerly Known as Thule [1993-95], the name changed to Taake
[Norwegian for fog] in 1995, and in 1999 the first album, Nattestid
Ser Porten Vid, was released. The whole concept of Taake revolves
round the person known as Horst, and musically driven by the low-fi
atmosphere of Darkthrone and more brooding Gorgoroth angst
coldness.
The second album, Over Bjoergvin Graater Himmerik, [2002], is a more
melodic release, though still remorselessly primitive in its
deployment and conception. The full reverb sound is inspired from
the backbone of Norwegian Black Metal, and Taake induce the creative
genius of the early nineties bands who shaped the genre. |
| The latest opus, Doedskvad, is in my opinion the bands finest moment
to date with more passionate and varied songs that expand the bands
sound even further. Deep swathes of emotive Black Metal that evoke
the archaic, whilst still retaining the desolate atmospheres of
classic Norwegian Black Metal.
There is a new Taake/Vidsyn split vinyl Agonia Records] that is
well worth seeking out, as well as another split via the same label
with fellow Norsemen, Gigantomachy |
| |
|
40. Ved Buens Ende - Written in Waters 1995
[Misanthropy Records] |
 |
Following the equally twisted psychedelic 30 minute demo ‘Those Who
Caress the Pale’, this album managed to harness the cold essence of
the Norse Black Metal ethos whilst stretching, compressing and
deforming the music to form a Voivod-esque off tempo sound. The
uniqueness of the compositions and groaning clean vocals made this
release one of a kind.
The Post-Black Metal movement, albeit small, and featured those acts
who dismantled the predictability of the music, whilst still
retaining the core elements. Bands like, Arcturus, Solefald, and
Fleurety, all expanded and de-classified a genre with creative
flashes of |
| individuality.
And with Ved Buens Ende constructed a jazzy trance like atmosphere
to the lazy arrangements of the music |
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1 - 10 |
11 - 20 |
21 - 30 |
31 - 40 |
41 - 50 |
51 - 60 |
61 - 70 |
71 - 80 |
81 - 90 |
91 - 100 |
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