Artist: Elderblood
Release Title: Messiah
Year: 2016
Label: Osmose Productions
Genre: Symphonic Black Metal
Tracklisting:
1.Thagirion's Sun
2.Invocation of Baphomet
3.Devil in the Flesh
4.Leviathan
5.Satana
6.In Burning Hands of God
7.Adamas Ater
Founded in 2011 by frontman and guitarist Astargh, Ukrainian symphonic black metal upstarts Elderblood are certainly the most important band in that style from their home country. With new member Blodorn joining in on bass and a new label to spearhead their attack, this impressive second release is issued May 27, 2016 on Osmose Productions surely cements their growing status in the underground.
As is to be expected in bands of this style, the main focus here is on the symphonic display which is one of the more impactful and devastating found here. Bombastic, majestic and grandiose to the point of overkill, there’s so much dynamics in the onslaught of keyboard-work featured here that it generates a successful cinematic-score like feeling throughout here that truly sounds as massive as possible with it dominating the mix firing away impressive technical flurries or simple accents to further that cinematic connection. Even without that present there’s some absolutely killer work here as the band can drop the symphonics and present more traditional arrangements with a tight, frantic series of riff-work with swirling tremolo lead-work that’s incredibly heavy while packing a powerful punch and then letting the symphonic work act as melodic accents to the tracks which is just as impressive. This even manages to correct the last flaw from the previous effort in chopping off several tracks so it’s not so bloated and overlong, clocking in at a more respectable length with about half the tracks featured on this release which is another stand-out part of the album as the impact here is just as great while not overstaying it’s welcome and really makes the release a wholly ferocious and devastating effort. Some might find fault with the bands’ over-the-top keyboard theatrics and wish that they played it a little more straightforward considering they’re that good as they are in that format, but this is still a nitpicky and barely worthwhile flaw that still does need to be mentioned anyway as the album really does deliver.
On the whole this is a near-flawless release that really should put the band up into the upper echelon of the genre as there’s so much at work here that’s truly enjoyable as well as devastating that it really should be picked up by anyone into the genre while symphonic fanatics who haven’t found this group yet should be shamed for waiting so long to do so.
Artist: Nordjevel
Release Title: Nordjevel
Year: 2016
Label: Osmose Productions
Genre: Old-School Black Metal
Tracklisting:
1.The Shadows of Morbid Hunger
2.Sing for Devastation
3.Djevelen i nord
4.The Funeral Smell
5.Denne tidløse krigsdom
6.Blood Horns03:38
7.Det ror og ror04:50
8.Når noen andre dør...
9.Norges sorte himmel
The self-titled debut release from Norwegian black metallers Nordjevel is pretty much exactly second-wave Norwegian black metal of the highest order without much difference of execution. There’s not a whole lot here that separates the band from their countrymen peers pumping out the same kind of quality two decades ago, being expertly-designed and executed black metal full of ripping tremolo-picked rhythms soaked in brimstone and hellfire that sounds positively explosive in this dynamic mix. Buzzing along at a tight, frantic tempo which gives this a definite melodic air against the more ravenous and vicious rhythms that are much more prominent here. Still, the melodic undercurrent here is still very much a part of the attack as the buzzing rhythms create a more melodic base against which it can securely meld these vicious riff-patterns and utterly chaotic drum-blasts that tend to make the music all the more vicious and engaging as it features both rampaging full-throttle riffing against infectious melodic harmonies. While it can be said that there’s nothing all that original here about the band being so blatantly and openly aping that sound and aesthetics throughout the album here, it’s a moot point here being as fervently enthusiastic and engaging here as this is the only real flaw within their music and it gets lost quite early on as its drowned out in a sea of passionately-played, competently-executed riffs and melodies that make for an immensely enjoyable effort from a promising new project.
The first half here expertly displays what’s featured throughout this one. Opener ‘The Shadows of Morbid Hunger’ features an extended howling-wind intro before blasting into vicious drumming and ravenous swirling tremolo-picked rhythms along surging up-tempo paces full of buzzing riff-work and dexterous drumming keeping the intensity in check throughout with the blistering tempos into the droning-sampled finale which makes for a wholly enjoyable and impressive opening here. ‘Sing for Devastation’ takes a more melodic sprawling tremolo riff into a dynamic and rather frenetic mid-tempo run with fervent melodies and dynamic drumming that continues along at a steady pace with the tremolo rhythms augmented nicely by the melodic tendencies in the final half for one of the album’s better efforts. ‘Djevelen i Nord’ offers a simple melodic series of swirling riff-work and plenty of dynamic drumming that takes the melody-driven tremolo-picked rhythms nicely along the intense blasting drumming as the sprawling melodies surge through dynamic charging tempos loaded with intense riffing into the up-tempo finale for yet another impressive effort. ‘The Funeral Smell’ features pounding drumming along with stylish up-tempo tremolo riff-work bouncing along at a feverishly up-tempo pace with plenty of blasting drumming and melodic riffing buzzing along to the frantic tempos with the clattering drumming working into a ravenous final half for another furious effort. ‘Denne tidløse krigsdom’ blows through the air-raid siren intro into bristling double-bass blasts with ravenous tremolo-picked riff-work and tight, mid-tempo rhythms that continually blaze along at varying up-tempo paces as the swirling tremolo-picked riffs buzz through vicious patterns into a more melodic finale for an incredibly enjoyable track.
‘Blood Horns’ takes a steady, bombastic mid-tempo approach with chaotic drumming blasting through the furious tremolo-picked riffs full of up-tempo blasting alongside those swarming rhythms as the urgent rhythms and intensity packed into the furious and frantic mid-section further the vicious final half makes it a true lasting highlight among the already impressive offerings. Offering back-to-back blasters as ‘Det ror og ror’ takes a swirling melodic riff into a rather frantic mid-tempo series of swarming tremolo riffing as the blitzkrieg-style drumming continues blasting throughout the feverish speed-driven sections full of melodic harmonies amongst the blinding speed continually blasting along throughout the finale for yet another stellar highlight. ‘Når noen andre dør…’ features sparkling tremolo harmonies against the blasting full-throttle drumming that takes a more vicious run away from the melodic qualities in the mid-section full of furious riff-work alongside the utterly punishing drum-work that manages to bring back some melodic rhythms in the still-frenetic final half for an overall impressive outing. Lastly, the epic ‘Norges sorte himmel’ features a melancholic riff against droning militaristic drumming that settles into a fine mid-tempo march with the swirling tremolo melodies and pounding drumming that successfully adapts to quicker tempos with more furious riff-work and blasting drumming carry the devastating mid-tempo pace along with the occasional solo section or mid-tempo break as it settles into a relaxing piano-led finale for a rather enjoyable slower-paced offering. Their album-closing cover of the Slayer classic ‘Raining Blood’ offers a lot of the same riffing and speed but loses a lot of the engaging heaviness going through the notions here as the varying riff-work comes off enjoyable if slightly obvious in the final half which ends this one on an overall fun note.
This one turned out to be among one of the most faithful and utterly engaging second-wave worshipping bands in the genre, and that this one is only their debut immediately makes them top contenders right out of the gate with what is easily an essential release for anyone remotely interesting in traditional black metal fare or looking to rediscover the glory days of the Norwegian scene.
