Vesania - 2005 - God the Lux

Out of Poland comes this Black Metal act with their second fullength. 12 tracks of slow to mid-paced, slightly melodic Death/Black Metal with keyboards is what we are presented with here. There is an industrial feel to the music as well. Musically this sounds like later Malignant Eternal and Dimmu Borgir as well as Emperor and Arcturus with a distinct Death Metal approach.

The vocals sound like those in Behemoth, which really comes as no surprise since it's the same person singing in both bands. More towards the darker, deeper spectrum, actually reminding me somewhat of the deeper vocals from earlier Cradle of Filth. They remind me of those in Malignant Eternal as well.

The production is full and quite industrial sounding. More towards a Death Metal production, really. The keyboards are present throughout the album. At times they play their own thing, and at times they are just laying down background ambience, but this is actually handled rather well. I am usually not a big fan of keyboards in the music I listen to.

Standouttracks are "Rest in Pain", "God the Lux", "The Mystory" and "Legions are Me".

Monday November 27 2006, by :Vragh:

May Result - 2004 - Svetogrdje

Out of Serbia comes this Black Metal horde with their fourth fullength. The music presented is symphonic and slightly melodic, mostly mid-paced to fast, with parts towards the more progressive side of the genre. This reminds me of a lot of different stuff; Taake, Borknagar, Grimm (Nl), Dissection, Enslaved, Ajattara and Summoning, and yet they don't sound like any of these bands. There are some Folk and Thrash in here as well.

Metal influences here as well. There is of course a rather obvious Dimmu Borgir reference to make, as this is Symphonic Black Metal, so there, I said it.

The vocals are somewhat towards the depressive kind, with similarities to those by Jon Nødtveidt of Dissection (R.I.P), but with a clear Eastern European edge to it. Perhaps slightly similar to those in the Czech band Dark Gamballe as well as those by Ruoija of Ajattara, at times.

The recording has a bit more of a Rock n Roll sound to it, but there is also a rather Eastern European sound here, mainly on the vocals and the keyboard. Keyboards can many times be used too excessively, just listen to the first pressing of In the Nightside Eclipse by Emperor, however this is not the case here. Most of the tracks on this CD are around the 10 minute mark. This is a very interesting and varied listen. All members have been or are also in The Stone.

Standout tracks are "Mesec Je Sad Sa Nama...", "Noc Crnoga Plamena", "Zloslut" and "Pogrom".

Sunday January 14 2007, by :Vragh:

Baphomet's Throne - 2003 - Spiritual Evil

Polish Black Metal horde Baphomet's Throne (a great name for a band, I must say)have released this demo on the world. Four tracks of keyboard based Black Metal, including an outro have found their way onto this recording. Musically this sounds like a more organic sounding Limbonic Art (sans the drum machine) with parts later Dimmu Borgir and Metal elements. There are quite a few progressive parts present here. The music is mid-paced and with good harmonies throughout. These guys can handle their instrumens quite well.

The vocals are more towards the Death Metal sound, reminding me mostly of those by Ares
on Aeternus' A Darker Monument album.

The soundquality on this recording is very good indeed, everything can be heard clearly, and the keyboards aren't too high in the mix. Normally I am not that fond of keyboard based Black Metal, but this is actually really good.

Standout tracks are "Spiritual Evil" and "Bitewny Zgielk".

February 13 2005, by :Vragh: