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Tuesday, June 08, 2004
"'Morke Gravers Kammer' by Khold"
by
Bill Vogel III
June 8, 2004 A.D.
With the recent death of Quorthon (Bathory), Black Metal seems heavily in need of some new heroes. One band worthy of consideration is the biting Khold. Their 2004 opus of macerating darkness, "Morke Gravers Kammer" [Candlelight Records], is fiercely dynamic in its fiery onslaught. This is Old School Black Metal at its finest.
Khold is raw and relentless...no pansy-boy, extended keyboard sonatas here. It's just solid, Blackened Death Thrash Metal with epic tempos (with a nice range of speeds). The growls are shrill, mid-ranged shriek that is intelligible yet harsh. And the rhythms are bombastic and catchy. Khold is killer.
The most enthralling of these odious odes includes "Dod," "Niflheimr," the crushing massiveness of the crawling "Atselgraver," "Hevnerske," and the ferocious "Morke Gravers Kammer." Khold is relentless.
Overall, Khold is visceral wonder of shredding, tenebrous intensity. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Aeon, Salem, Serpent Obscene, Abyss,
Venom, Marduk, Sigh, Cradle Of Filth,
Throcult, Mystic Circle, Emperor, Absu,
Order From Chaos, Beherit, Cadaver,
Mayhem, Borknagar, Bathory, Darkthrone,
Total War, Fog, Allegiance, Rossomahaar,
User Ne, Samael, Peccatum, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Copyright 2004.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 7:10 PM
REWIND REVIEW....
"'Nordland II' by Bathory"
by
Bill Vogel III
May 30, 2003 A.D.
From the darkened halls of the Palace of Oblivion's Dawn rises the pure, pristine Night.... Bathory returns with the epic follow-up opus to the incredible "Nordland" release. The aptly titled "Nordland II" [The End/Black Mark Records], continues in the previous work's evolutionary progression.
Bathory has taken Black Metal to the beautiful extremes, adding elements of Gothic Metal, Viking War Metal, and Neo Classical influences to an already powerful sound. The vocals are mostly clean, but very dark and sublime. The guitars are huge, epic blasts of fiery glory. And the poetic lyrics are an exceptionally nice touch.
It's no wonder Bathory is so revered....
The best of these excellent cuts includes "Blooded Shore," the epic powerhouse "Vinland," "Death And Resurrection Of A Northern Son," and "The Wheel Of Sun." Bathory are the best at what they do.
In summary, Bathory has surpassed the might "Nordland" with this brilliant successor. And we are blessed for it. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Arcturus, Green Carnation, Cradle Of
Filth, Borknagar, Darkthrone, Total War,
Marduk, Fog, Allegiance, Rossomahaar,
Without Face, User Ne, Khold, Samael, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION. War.
Copyright 2003.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 6:30 PM
Monday, June 07, 2004
"'Get An Oxygen Tank' by Mental"
by
Bill Vogel III
June 4, 2004 A.D.
Straight ahead and sharp as a razor, Mental makes modern Hardcore with Old School charm. Their 2003 work, "Get An Oxygen Tank" [Bridge Nine Records], is a tenacious little beast consisting of short-burst Hardcore fury. Mental is the "instant gratification" of Hardcore Punk.
Short, fiery songs are the rule here. Aggressive vocals mixed with yells jump across frenetic rhythms and roaring guitars. Mental is pure, unfiltered hostility. And it's a killer thing.
The best of these outbursts includes "Bounce Back," the abrasive glimmer of "Get An Oxygen Tank," "History 101," "Respect," "Mental," and the frenetic "Sike." Mental is furiously cool.
Overall, Mental kicks butt. Simple aggression is good. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: H2O, Terror, Some Kind Of Hate, Awkward
Thought, Minor Threat, Fugazi, Ramones,
Snapcase, Lustra, Ataris, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Copyright 2004.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 10:25 AM
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