Metal Reviews

neither do i. so far i've liked Frost and Below the Lights, but wasn't blown away by either of them. Isa is so bad i want to turn it off after 5 minutes and Ruun is kinda meh :\

Enslaved was a very awesome black metal band, though it seemed they went on a downward spiral ever since. Though some people's "downward spirals" could be evolution/improvement I guess.

Vikingligr Veldi is amazing. When I first heard some samples of it I thought "holy shit..." and I knew I had to get it haha. I've discovered great stuff thanks to the classics section of this site, so thanks for that!
Hordane's Land is good too, but the production is very "eh"-sounding. The keyboards are way too dry; IMO it ruins any potential they have on being authentically atmospheric (compared to the same songs with keyboards on their other demos/splits).
Frost is alright, though it almost seems like it's a different band after what they've done before. Sorry if I'm rambling off-topic here.

I haven't heard this album, though judging from their last albums (which I have heard) I probably won't be very interested, to say the least. I draw the line at Monumension, probably (the ambient textures and melodies there are very good in select songs).

BTW anyone looking to like this band (for black metal) should check out Vikingligr Veldi and their other albums around this time frame, pretty kickass stuff Though I can't help you with their more progressive, newer albums.

listen to eld

listening now... think I probably prefer International Savings Account to this, but I guess it's the kind of thing that grows. Prefer my BM a bit more grim and blasting though.

EDIT: Although... I guess they are not reall BM any more so that last comment is kind of pointless...

What BM are you into these das?

Now listening to the new Behexen. Recently I've been listening to some more techy types of metal such as Coroner/Mekong Delta/lots of tech death, so when I listen to BM I like it to be very back-to-basics and rip my face off as a neat counterpoint.

Cool.
Tenebrae In Perpetuum is pretty good for raw melodic BM.

Thanks for the recommendation, I've never even heard of that band- great name though.

Try
http://www.metal-archives.com/release.php?id=85370

http://www.metal-archives.com/release.php?id=31412

http://www.metal-archives.com/release.php?id=31416

or

http://www.metal-archives.com/release.php?id=41822


the more recent stuff is decent, but the earlier stuff is way better.

haha, I was just listening to a track of theirs on youtube and thinking about how something about the feel of it made me think of Italian horror films, and lo and behold it transpires they are an Italian band... something about that country must inspire the dark arts...

Yeah, I (as you know) love Italian horror.
Which track?
Tenebrae... are one of the few BM acts that truly manage to capture that necro quality so often vaunted, (and almost as often missed) in the vast array of BM.
Nice new avatar, BTW.

I think it was Mutilazioni Celesti, although I listened to a few. That was the one that made me think of Italian films, anyway.

Thanks on the avatar- I don't like it as much as the last one but I felt it was time for a change and Night of Terror/Burial Ground deserves a bit of publicity, haha

Mutilazioni Celesti... haha

Celestial mutilation?



Sorry for derailing the Enslaved thread, everyone!

I was listening to a couple tracks from Ruun earlier today and they're really meh. I never understood why it didn't click with me, but that's because it's not that good.

Maybe this is better, but I'm kinda skeptical.

i agree

honestly since below the lights i have increasingly lost interest in their music. it feels like their song writing has become more and more simple to the point that this new album is quite boring. i originally gave it an 80 but i would probably give it in the low 70s now that i have had more time with it.

but there is an awful lot of praise roaming here so maybe you will dig it more than I. heres to hoping they pick up they black metal spark that made their older albums so inspired

Well said, this is a great album from start to finish!

I was enamored with Below the Lights, I thought that was the epitomy of a progressive-yet-still-heavy effort. Isa was a letdown for me because it seemed to travel further down that route, but it often mistook meandering for progressive. This time around they seem to have learned the lesson of Opeth - experiment, but keep the attention of the listener.

Yes, I do like this album now... found it easier to get into than Ruun and ISA. Looking forward to seeing them on wednesday, should be fun.

I think I heard that Chthonic was opening for them it should be an awesome show.

Cthonic....

....THAT'S what that logo is on the ticket under "support". Thanks, traptunderice!