Tag Archives: true black metal

Reviews

(review) Uburen – Dødsdans I Aske

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New Uburen opus is among us. Time for some Norwegian black metal to grace the pages of this zine. Uburen are hailing from Sandnes, Rogaland, Norway and were formed in 2010. This is their fifth full length opus containing 7 songs. 4 songs are in English language and 3 are in Norwegian. Some of the lyrics are Viking themes if I am not mistaken. The music of Uburen can be described as true old school Norwegian black metal, not unlike 1349, Gorgoroth, old Darkthrone, Tulus and couple others come to mind. It shows rawer side of black metal with some great melodic guitar parts here and there. There are little or not at all blast beats, but there are couple of more slow and atmospheric parts like in one of my favorites called Vettenes Doddans and even better Formed By Time which includes kinda clean vocals at the start of the song. Vocals are screechy and fit perfectly in the big picture, they are not too extreme, but you can understand the words that are being sung and that is another plus for me. I love when black metal bands sing in their own language, it makes them somehow more rebellious to me. In all, if you are fan of old school nineties style of black metal, go check this one out you will not be disappointed. Favorite songs: Vettenes Doddans, Formed By Time, Brister I Vevet.

8,5/10

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(review) TULUS – ‘Fandens kall’ (Soulseller Records)

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Norwegian black metal veterans Tulus are back with their new opus, first one in three years. eighth in all. I remember how they blew me away with their debut album ‘Pure Black Energy’ back in the day. Members of Tulus also play in Sarke and Khold among other bands and projects. This opus offers ten songs of what is somewhat called True Norwegian Black Metal, but I would say with lots of prog and inventive elements thrown into songwriting. Aggression and old school atmosphere is still here, but there are couple of songs, like excellent ‘Sjelesmerte’ which involves changes in tempo, slowed down, and those eerie female vocals melodies are superb, courtesy of Lena Fløitmoen who also sings female vocals for Sarke. All lyrics are in Norwegian and that is another plus although I do not speak it and not understand besides my German and English but I manage to get context of the lyrics. One of my favorites is also ‘Bloddråpesvermer’ with that bass line melody, thrown in acoustic guitars and melancholic piano ending. If you are into old school Norwegian black metal, and you haven’t listened to three decades of these legends, now is the time for you to correct that mistake.

9/10

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(review) Black Altar/Kirkebrann – Deus Inversus (Odium Records)

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This is a bit older release, but no matter, never too late for good music, eh? Odium Records will be releasing this beauty on vinyl and digipack cd soon, so what better time to have a listen. This is a seven song split release of two black metal bands, namely Black Altar from Poland and Kirkebrann from Norway.

Polish black metal veterans Black Altar, led by founder Shadow offer two songs and an instrumental outro, more dark ambient styled short outro. For the recording of this material by Black Altar, there were some really prominent guests like Mauser(ex Vader), Lars Broddesson (Funeral Mist, ex Marduk) and Alexandros(Macabre Omen). The songs by Black Altar on this record are fast, brutal and full of blast beats, more nineties style of old school black metal and I love the atmosphere of aggression and melancholy they create with awesome melodies provided between carefully constructed merciless onslaught.

Kirkebrann are hailing from Norway and they represent a newer tide of black metal bands from that country, who still hold the black flame of true Norwegian black metal band burning proudly, with bands like 1349, Tsjuder, Urgehal coming to mind while listening to the music of Kirkebrann, but besides that, they still sound a lot like that old first wave of Norse black metal, from the legendary early first half of the nineties. Their for songs on this record are a lesson in raw, yet at times melodic black metal sung in Norwegian language. This is a great split record. Odium Records do such a fine job with all their roster and released opuses.

https://odiumrecords.bandcamp.com/album/black-altar-kirkebrann-deus-inversus