Reviews by Lidia Buscaino except where indicated.
ABHORRENCE (BRA) “Evoking the abomination” (2001) [EVIL VENGEANCE REC./LISTENABLE REC.]
In the other side of the world occasional music’s trend doesn’t seem to be as much as strongly rooted as in Europe.
This must be one of the reasons why bands such as Abhorrence coming from south America (yep, one more time is this surprising land to give us a hope) still follows the primordial instinct in playing metal.
Someone will probably objects they play usual death metal but I can’t really find the point in saying this nowadays. I mean, in these days it’s not an ordinary thing to listen to a band such as Abhorrence: mostly of the metal bands seem to be more interested in winning the year’s award for the most original sound rather than playing metal from the heart.
Instead Abhorrence plays a pure crashing death metal: not either a second to breath between the songs and I believe that you will really enjoy to headbang every tracks of “Evoking the abomination”.
ARISE FROM THORNS (USA)“Before an Audience of Stars” (2001)[DARK SYMPHONIES]
First of all this CD is not their new album but the re-release of their 2nd self-financed CD “Before an Audience of Stars” featuring also 2 exclusive tracks and an unplugged live song.
The vocalist Michelle have a so incredible warm voice that, knowing or not the band, this will be enough for buying this album.
It’s not really music for ultra brutal metal heads but lots of listeners into the more depressive side of music, metal or not, will appreciate their melancholic prog/folk rock.
Music and vocals are not the only beautiful aspect of this album: a marvellous layout made by M. Riddick of The Soil Bleeds Black will enchant you.
Waiting for a new release of this band under the new moniker Brave, I deeply advice you “Before an Audience of Stars” to get in touch with their gently music. You will often choose it as your discreet friend both in the grey depressive autumnal days while laying on the bed and reading a book and in windy sunny spring days which show the deeply blue of the sky while driving far with the car through desert streets. Now, their music is telling me to reach an isolated place where I’ll rest under the shadow of an old tree, waiting the night to see the shooting-stars.
(2nd June 2001)
BLOODSHED "Skullcrusher" (MCD)
Deathmetal from Stockholm, Sweden. Recorded in the legendary
Sunlight Studio and released on the Italian label CODE666. A few
interesting parts, but over all quite unoriginal. However, there´s
potential and in my opinion a MCD was the right choise. The five
tracks including the intro, aren´t really of the same class. A little work
on the melodies, and within a year or two I´m sure we may crush our
skulls with a fullength album.
5/10.
Review by Elias Axelsson
BOLT THROWER "Honour Valour Pride".
Bolt Thrower once again prove their selfes with their uncompromising
midtempo deathmetal. This is one of my favorite bands and "H V P"
strongly reminds me of the brilliant 1994 release ".....for victory".
Catchy and charismatic , delivered with heaviness and affection. After
all theese years and records in the same style, I wonder how many
actually great riffs they must have come up with and just laid to waste
in order to maintain their strict sound. New drummer (again !!) and
also a new vocalist. Both doing their jobs with accuracy. But I must
admit that I miss the voice of Karl Willetts. Artwork / lyrics usually
deals with war, and this is no exception. Long live Bolt Thrower !!
7,5/10.
Review by Elias Axelsson
CARCASS– Requiems of revulsion [DEATHVOMIT RECORDS- A division of NECROPOLIS] (2001)
“Requiems of Revulsion” is a tribute to the earlier days of the cult band CARCASS. Of course, this is the perfect CD for all the nostalgic fans of albums as “Reek of Putrefaction” but it will also pleased all the fans of grind as weel as of bands like Rotten Sound, Discorge, Impales, Dead Infection, Regurgitate, Nasum, Haemorrhage, Exhumed, Avulsed which all paid homage to Carcass in this CD.
CASTRUM (UKR) “Hatenourisher” (2001)
Here’s the debut album of the Ukraine band Castrum. In spite of this, the band is not completely new in the underground scene and you probably heard their name for playing live with bands such a Krabathor.
The Canadian label Bloodbucket Prod. defined their music as “medieval death metal”, a really original description but doing reviews I must be more concrete: Castrum plays an intense NWOSDM with lots of interesting mid-tempos and doom breaks, enriched with vocals variations from growls to really remarkable dark clean vocals (like in the “Night of Saint-Barthlomew”) passing through incredible catchy screams more in the thrash style! It’s incredible how they were able to make sound all these parts coherent: it’s not one minute I felt this recordings sound fragmentary or disjointed.
Unfortunately, this recordings have a big limit in the really poor production that makes it sounds more like a demo or a live session recordings than a debut CD.
I hope this band will be supported in recordings a new release with a stronger production as I do really like their style and I’m yearning to listen more from these Ukraine guys!
CELESTIAL ODE [Self financed] 18.23” (2001)
In spite of the name this band hailing from Greece is not really another melodic gothic-black metal band. Lots of elements in their sound are taken from the power, speed and also thrash metal.
This self financed debut album recorded between the end of year 2000 and the start of 2001 is the result of different years of hard work of these talented musicians.
I want to dedicated few other lines to the vocals. The singer seems to be a great fans of power metal; unfortunately I’m not but I agree they suit Celestial Ode’s sound really good. On the opposite, I consider the sporadic use of growl vocals out of place
Labels…you know what you have to do.
Band’s contact:
E-mail: celestialode@yahoo.com
CELESTIAL ODE, Argiroupoleos 2, Pefkakia 142 31, Athens, Greece
[October 2001]
DARKTHORNE “Plague Weilder” [Moonfog]
Holidays was coming to the unavoidable end when I gladly read about a forthcoming Darkthrone new album: no better way to start the imminent autumn in the sign of the most gloomy and rough sound. This was my first tought while the second ones was to put this CD on the top’s list of CDs I should check out once home. Luckily or better thank to Moonfog I didn’t need to extend the tedious waiting: Plague Weilder was surprisingly waiting me home. Perhaps, I don’t need to tell you I listen it immediately, anyway you need to know I liked “plague Weilder” at once.
In spite of this, it’s not that easy to review this or any other release of my favourite black metal band from ever. In any case, I do believe that not only the fans of Darkthrone will agree with my words after listen to their new effort.
PW is 10 years far in time from the cult releases “Under a funeral moon” and “Transilvania Hunger” both in production than in the more a tad complex and matured songwriting still grim as only Darkthrone can be. “Raining murder”, “I, Vodhanger” and “Wreak” with primitive rockish guitar riffs and mighty drums tempo and the original ideas as i.e. the thundering drums in the opener track (which I personally find an ingenious initiative) show that in “Plague Weilder” Darkthrone were able to don’t repeat themselves without lose their raw trademark. On the other hand, their last superb release is more direct than the previous “Ravishing Grimness”: songs as “Sin origin” and “Command” are just the most raw tunes you can ask for.
Just put “Plague Weilder” on your top’s CD list and you won’t be disappointed.
ENTHRONED (BEL) “Armoured Bestial Hell” (2001) [BLACKEND RECORDS]
Enthroned is surely one of the fewest Belgium bands who get out of the mass and it’s also one of the oldest black metal bands who endures the time. This as first confirmation of their value as you certainly know how many bands tends to disappear in the big metal hotchpotch.
This is the reason why I had high expectations about their new release. “Armoured Bestial Hell” still follows the war black metal rules à la Marduk (is it a coincidence the cover reminds me the one of “Panzer Division Marduk”?)with in addition to this some thrash metal influenced riffs.
It is a OK black album but apart a couple of remarkable songs (the titletrack and the long as well as good structured "When the freezes over" plus the particular outro), this release is not as much interesting as I expected.
GRAVELAND “Creed of Iron” [NO COLOURS REC.] (2000) 44:27 min.
I do remember the first time I listened to this Polish cult band: it was long time ago as I’m talking about their second demo “In the glare of burning churches”.
This band doesn’t need to be presented as together with Bememoth they’re the most famous and old band hailing from Poland.
One good point about Graveland is that during the latest years they didn’t move so much from the style they was use to play in the past even though the band is a bit more into pagan metal (using lots of mid tempos) and also vocals suit good the feeling of these other music's shades. Instead, comparing with the previous releases, recordings are nowadays really professional added to a more clear production: the result ends in a high quality CD's level.
It’s impressive the band recorded songs long around 10 minutes each (except for the intro “Blood and Ash”) without sounds too monotonous. Of course they should improve more concerning to this but honestly I already didn’t except so much.
On the other side, an album with this kind of structure is very selective about listeners: it will satisfy everyone into black/pagan metal but mostly the fans of “fast and evil” black metal will hardly get into it.
KATATONIA (SWE) “Last fair deal Gone Down” (2001) [PEACEVILLE] Running time: 50.44
Of course Katatonia has changed a lot from their debut CD “Dance of Decemebr soul” but the band has always been able to create a whirl of emotions inside the listeners’ soul.
From the issue of “Discoureged ones” Katatonia began a research of a different way to express their feelings (and probably for many listeners more “soft” tunes) and nowadays it seems the band has finally found it: a new shade of mournful notes.
Jonas has reached an incredible moving way of singing that gives to Katatonia’s sound a new trademark; guitars have attained a new level of maturity: the gentle touch of emotions.
Katatonia’s music has always been the perfect soundtracks in my solitary walk through the desert shady paths: the scent of the cordial tree dance in the air with their wonderful notes and the colour of their leaves to fulfil all the speech of emotions and thoughts.
The lyrics are an enigmatic puzzle of our deepest questions. Still listening to “Last fair…” I feel like walking in the never ending labyrinth of life; still I feel the perfect but delicate equilibrium of existence that is also the one of their music. Nobody can judge this kind of feelings; who will dare will definitely be lost in a labyrinth that is not his own
KHOLD (NOR) “Masterpiss of Pain” (2001) [MOONFOG]
Luckily, Satyr decided to give this band a change listening to their demo material. Yes, this band is a new Norwegian creature but the members are not so unknown to the metal scene as they’ve been part of bands like Old Man’s Child and Tulus.
Nothing pioneering about their sound but just exactly what my ears were missing so far.
What makes this album so precious is their extremely raw black metal approach with impressively gloomy riffs and an exceptional thundering bass: a really rare sound these days.
They give me the feelings to be back to the early nineties Darkthrone masterpieces.
As fans of primitive black metal too, I can state all the listeners who share my same passion will enthusiastic by “Masterpiss of Pain” album.
To them are dedicated these last words: forget the rest and go for it without any doubt!
(20 may 2001)
MALEVOLENT CREATION (USA) “Envenomed” (2000) [ARCTIC MUSIC GROUP]
When one thinks about USA death metal some of the most important names which surely come to the mind are Morbid Angel, Deicide, Suffocation, Cannibal Corpse and, of course, Malevolent Creation. So, this essential band and their spiteful sound both don’t really need any introduction.
Instead, you need to have “Envenomed” in your death metal collection or something will be missed. I’m talking about what few bands are able to give you as “Envenomed” is the perfect example of how death metal should be: aggressive, direct, intense, inspired and well-played!
Furthermore, their sound is not static (as it's sometimes for other death metal bands) and you can listen to this also in some more “continental” and really amazing riffs but always in Malevolent Creation’s style!
My final verdict is that “Envenomed” is a new great goal in their honourable career started in 1987 (7 full-length albums released from the 1991!) and… I really need to tell you more? Just get it!
MALEVOLENT CREATION P.O. BOX 23519, Ft. Luaderdale, FL 33307, USA
ualldie@aol.com
MAYHEM "Grand Declaration of War" (2000) [SEASON OF MIST]
It's simple to say: it's a not an album one can review in few lines: I can't get great emotions from "Grand Declaration of War". On the other side, it’s a bit controversial because I found something else in these new songs: it's like Mayhem started in creating a new sound that will give to some (but I guess not so many) listeners new emotions.
About me, it’s from their exhibition in Trondheim just some days before the album was out that I’ve been asking myself: what the hell was that? I’m talking about the intro to “View from nihil” and this is just an example. I haven’t found out the answer jet...
Someone declares this will be an album that will shock like the cult "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas" in the beginning of the 90's but after it'll be remember as well as this one. Well, I liked "De Mysteriis.." at once, not this one...
I can’t be sure about the opposite, only time shall tell but I have many doubts about it will endure the time. Mostly I can't really understand in which way one can compare such 2 different albums: the “obscure” touch of the oldest is something nobody can negate but in the new album of Mayhem is no remander.
I mean, it’s impressive how they try to play something different and original and songs like “A bloodsword and a colder sun” are really remarkable when it comes to this but can we still call this originality or at least be surprised about the new addictions to black metal when nowadays mostly of the Norwegian ex-black metal bands are trying to add to their sound tons of strange effects and kind of techno/industrial, even ambient parts and (terrible) harcorish vocals (“crystallized pain in deconstruction”)or simple mixing with death/black riffs? Sometimes is simply too much: the result ends to be confuse and even the songs are supposed to be violent are not strong enough because of these parts.
But don’t except Mayhem did a straight step into a “new sound” with this album; it’s more a mix of different weapons. “Grand declaration of war” could be the right title if you see this album as a “declaration” of what is supposed to be a future battle of Mayhem. But still is not clear what are they requests. I’m really curious, nothing more.
Maybe for you too now it’s a difficult choice so I advice you something else: just think what are you looking for and then the choice will be simple, one more time.
MY DYING BRIDE (U.K.) “Meisterwerk I” (2000) [PEACEVILLE RECORDS]
“Meisterwerk I” is really a jewel for all the fans of one of the greatest doom band, My Dying Bride.
I should add that not always the collection, tribute or compilation CDs are so useful to the listeners and mostly even not so beautiful…but this is not really the case of Peaceville collection CDs starting with My Dying Bride’s one.
First of all, as the labels reminds us this CD is out with full permission of the musicians and I’m sure lots of fans of MDB has been looking for years (often unluckily end their research into really bad quality bootlegs) for the songs taken from their old and rare works (demo, Ep’s, Lp’s from the early 90’ies) which are the biggest part of “Meisterwerk I”. Finally their dream come true with this long awaited production!
In addiction to this, you also get the change to see their gloomy video “The cry of mankind”.
All this makes the great difference with the other usual average collection CDs.
NARGAROTH “Amarok” [No COLOUR REC.] 40” (2000)
Between the CDs I’ve received from No Colours Records Nargaroth is surely the more controversial to review.
I should first talk you about the opener track “Herbstleyd” as it has fairly nothing to do about the production with the rest of the CD (probably because is the only quite new song-a different promo’s version- the band include in “Amarok”): the production is good still is primitive black metal with fast as well as catchy metal riffs well mixed with more flolkish parts and even obscure slow parts à la Burzum of “Det som engang var”. Wow! I was so impressed by this first song that I was willing to listen to the rest…
Unfortunately, the rest of the Cd is so low quality production (as what you can find here is mostly old material) that it makes difficult to completely enjoy it.
I don’t see so much the point to release a CD like this. I mean, there’re 6 songs plus a Burzum cover taken from old demo and apart from the first track, the rest is old material with a really bad production. I know these songs are mostly unreleased material but I will like to remember everyone that “old” is not always synonymous of interesting and inspired one! Sometimes it should be better it rest “unrealesed”! This is the case of the monotonous and insipid “Amorok- Zorn des Lamme Par II” and the really gloomy song “As the stars took me with ‘em” that, apart from the final and really original “ambient” part, is so much similar to Burzum material that should be easily confused with another Burzum cover! Wasn’t “Black Spell of Destruction” cover enough?
On the opposite, the extremely raw black metal sound of songs like “Shall we begin” “into the void” is a rare treasure nowadays that give to Nargaroth a high valuation but still with terrible recordings (in comparing to this, Darkthrone old releases sound like were recorded in the Sunlight Studios!): I do like primitive black metal but at least I had to get the notes I’m listen to!
If the final purpose was to make the listeners/media curious about a future release of this underground band, well, I must admit they get the point but I’d rather wait for listen a new CD than buy this kind of suicidal business operation (if you considerer the weak production and the ½ interesting material). Even a famous/cult band with a long and prolific career who decided to re-released some old material have to add new songs or other artifices like a special package CD to encourage the listeners to buy it! Does the label really think Nargoroth is so famous that a release like this can survive the cruel but real business rules?!?
This is what I think: it should have been enough to include just some of this material (like the above mentioned songs) in a new release, nothing more easy! All the “true” Nargaroth fans will be satisfied and the rest of the listeners will have a more complete and serious way to know this interesting band.
I am really looking forward for a new release from Nargaroth.
NOCTIFERIA (SLO)“Per Aspera” (2001) [eRotica pRomotions]
Noctiferia is a particular band. First of all, they was strong enough in surviving the flat metal scene in their country, Slovenia, so they’ve been working hard to make the band known in the other European countries, also touring with bands like i.e. Malevolent Creation and Catastrophic.
“Per Aspera” is a well performed album and it’s also supported by a good production. Talking about their sound, it embraces a huge range of styles, taking inspiration from bands like Samael (“Ceremonies of the opposites”) but also Morbid Angel and adding lots of ancient tunes and heavy metal parts.
Not so many bands play this mixture of styles so this could be another good point to get in touch with :
eRotica pRomotions
c/o R.Doblekar, ziherlova 4, 1000 Ljubliana, Slovenia
E-mail: noctiferia@angelfire.com
NOVEMBERS DOOM (USA)“The Knowing” [DARK SYMPHONIES] 63.49”
One time I get an extraordinary surprise about doom tunes from a US band called In Ruins (R.I.P.). I though I had to wait lots of years before another doom band coming from USA will be able to release a so outstanding album but I was wrong. After only(!) a couple of years here it comes this CD “The Knowing “ in my postal box. This time is Novembers Doom to make this dark miracle for which I have to thank for.
N.D. is not a new band but if you compare this combo with the father of the death/doom My Dying Bride and Anathema is not either the oldest one. It’s pretty clear N.D. are not playing to create a new genre and songs like “Silent Tomorrow“ and “Last God” are an unequivocal homage to them. But it’s not about the strong influences of these bands on N.D. and on mostly of the doom metal bands followed in the latest years I’m going to talk about. It doesn’t really matter as in this way this band better focalise their music to stir up deeply and moving emotions in all the long album (more than 1 hour)plainly passing from the gloomy slow guitars riffs like in the song “Last God” to the marvellous acoustic passages in “Intervene”, from the stonish notes in “In Memories Past” to affecting piano tunes that introduces “The Day I return” .
Through the mysterious universal law of “nothing is new, everything turns into something else”, they really work out to transform the 7 notes into infinite depressive feelings…
www.novembersdoom.com
ODES OF ECSTASY (GRE) „Deceitful Melody“ [THE END RECORDS] 49.16”
This symphonic doom metal band has released their 2nd album.
The layout of the CD represents classical sculptures coming from their ancient heritage like to introduce the harmonious female vocals which is the main element in Odes of Ecstasy’s music. Musically, the band is opened to both doom and prog metal influences like in the “The Conqueror Worm” (lyrics by E.A.Poe- Ed.). Try to imagine keyboards and male vocals a bit in the Crematory’s vein while guitar’s riffs sometimes are really influenced by prog metal and last but bot least all the sound is supported by female “odes of ecstasy” (!) which is the main difference with the above mentioned German band. The constant presence of female vocals is also the delight of Odes of Ecstasy’s sound: a good performance by Christina Maniati that makes Odes Of Ecstasy more interesting than all the other average bands playing this kind of style.
You’ll not have great surprised listening to this CD as the music is a bit “linear”, recalling the classical themes of the layout: sometimes it can even lacks of vigour, probably also due to the not so strong production.
It’s pretty clear this band address his odes to a bit more sophisticated crowd than the death metal one even if they still mix such melodic elements with more brutal (male vocals), heavy (guitar riffs) ones. I do believe the band’ll sound more complete and even more particular if in future they start focus their sound to such more melodic elements which seem to be the most successful parts of their sound and without the one the band will probably soon forgotten. But I’m maybe a bit partial in saying this: well, I’m not a great fans of this kind of melodic style but first of all, lately, I have a kind of aversion to the male(growl vocals)-female(clean vocals) duet!
ORK (BUL) “Blessed by evil” (2000) [FOLTER RECORDS]
I do like the direct black metal approach of this band hailing from Bulgaria. Starting as a one-man devoted to raw black metal Ork is currently a solid five pieces still dedicated to freezing notes following the teaching of the Norwegian black metal bands, like f.e., Satyricon but sometimes also embracing Swedish death/black ones (one above all, Naglfar).
Under the German label Folter Records they released such a surprising debut album “Blessed by evil” that will probably make them known to the international crowd: they was able to get a fairly good production without loosing their direct black metal style.
Even, Ork is not a conventional black metal band mixing such different styles, heavy metal riffs and, fortunately, allowing only a tiny keyboards’ employ. I must specify I’m not a great fans of heavy metal solos into black metal but I believe it’s not a big deal Ork sometimes ignore this general structure like, for example, in the track “Black soul desire” where the guitarist performance will also please all the “heavy metal” fans out there!
Yeah, yeah…all of you, can find a reason to listen to “Blessed by evil”!
(20nd May 2001)
RED HARVEST (NOR) “Cold Dark Matter” (2000) [NOCTURNAL ART PRODUCTIONS]
Red Harvest is definitively a “cult” band: they started their career in 1989 and until now they have already released 5 full length albums and 2 mCD. Still now, they’re one of the most innovative and creative band I’ve ever heard and, honestly, they deserves even more attention all around the world even if their works are absolutely “not commercial”, if you know what I mean.
Their sound is difficult to label into a merely style as this band was able to create their own unique style and every album is as much outstanding and inspired as their previous precious works.
Maybe only a new description for every album should suits better this band. The song’s title “Death in cyborg era” seems to suggest the best one for their last album as “Cold Dark Matter” is an extremely cold cyber music.
Of course, it’s possible to listen to different approaches in their music from the altered industrial to violent death metal ones but as I've already explained you what makes Red Harvest so inimitable is their ability in mixing all this: they go beyond music clichés and have been started in doing this before everyone else.
The new album doesn’t make any exception to this: it’s a tunnel entering into modern psycho killer minds and ending at the edge of craziness into the sub-zero unknown: the cyborg era! What you will listen to is about their really sharp thoughts and mutant sounds!
In connection with this, the Norwegian artist René Hamel (www.spacebrain.no) realized the really ingenious layout for the new album: a virtual entering in the cyber’s world.
Black metal fans will be also glad to know their hero, Fenriz, appears, as guest vocalist, in some tracks of “Cold Dark Matter”: it’s up to you to recognize which ones I’m talking about and if you’re a big fans you’ll surely guess it right!
Everyone should have at least one album of this significant band in their music collection: who already has one was surely waiting for this new album too; if you don’t know Red Harvest (how is that possible?!?) I advice you to start from their last great and most violent release and then your burning thirst for creativity will surely yearn for more!
www.redharvest.com
SATANS PENGUINS (SWE) “Birds of Darkness” (2001) )[HERETIC SOUND]
I know it can be hard to take a band with a name like this seriously and writing lyrics about topics as the penguins’ arise and the revenge of Gargamels against Smurfs(!) don’t make it easier. Honestly I laugh a lot about this but concerning music I must admit they are as good as well as crazy in writing lyrics! I advise you to take the most ironic lyrics with humour and let the music capture you.
The Portuguese label who produced this not conventional band describes their sound as a black avantgarde metal. I totally agree: screams vocals and the most aggressive metal riffs are completely in the black metal style in alternation with perfect heavy metal parts, classical influences (using f.e. Vivaldi’s tunes), traditional folklore with melodic female vocals. Clear examples of their more bizarre vein is also the addiction of parts with sax and the superlative drummer’s performance who often seems to play jazz!
What make this band so interesting is their talent to easily mix all the different sometimes unusual elements into their own unique and amazing style: only professional musicians can dare so much and succeed the prove completely.
Sometimes to have a ‘zine can give great satisfactions like to discover and appreciate the existence of people who test the restrictions of the so called “normality”: now it’s time for you to try your limits, if you dare...
[December 2001]
THORNS(NOR) (2001) [MOONFOG]
I’m proud to review this album ‘cause is at the same time what I call grim, obscure, clever, innovative and essential!
It exceed every expectations: Snorre is not unknown in the metal scene and it has been many years (a decade!) fans has been waiting his coming back but I beat a hundred CDs nobody of you will imagine what he was plotting against the tedium of life!
This should be enough to get Thorns’ album right now (if I am wrong to advice you this album, you’ve probably wrong reading this ‘zine too) but as I’m really enthusiast I feel to tell you more.
Grim and obscure: Well, this is surely one of the grimmest album has been produced in the latest years, just listen to the gloomy guitars riffs and your thoughts will freeze to death.
Clever and innovative: Thorns did one step forward everyone else. The ingenious Snorre (all my greatest respect this outstanding musician!), with the help of Aldrahn of DHG and Satyr on the vocals as well as co-producer and Hellhammer on live-drums, was able to transform unexpected and previously abused instruments, like f.e. keyboards, into evil means of primordial black metal. This is the only “evolution” of black metal I can totally support; the rest just taste like water in a bottle of good wine!
Every time I listen to songs as “Shifting chanel” and “Vortex” I get one more time amazed by the heaviness of the guitars riffs and the drums performance, the sinister atmosphere created by the obscure keyboards and the industrial elements.
Essential: this is music that will endure time. Thorns is already a cult band but finally this release express and pay the right homage to his rare ability: more and more listeners as well as press will recognize his cleverness or something must be really wrong out there...
