Long Voyage Back - 1998 - Long Voyage Back

This is the first album by this Australian one man band, featuring Phil Gresik who has previously been involved in Deströyer 666, Bestial Warlust and Hobb's Angel of Death. This album is very varied with influences ranging from Viking era Bathory via Borknagar, Gorgoroth and In the Woods... to regular Metal, from slow parts to faster parts and back again. A very progressive album, not too much Black Metal in it, really. Dark Metal, maybe?

The vocals remind me of Kreator at times, but they are as varied as the music,ranging from clear to spoken to growl, whichever fits the mood of the music at the time. The album has a good production, nice and clear. The overall feel to this album is one of Anti-Christian values and good musicianship, really.

Some really catchy songs here, without being In Flames catchy, of course. There are only five tracks, and all are actually very enjoyable. The bass is heard throughout the album, which is very nice. A drum machine seems to be utilized, but it doesn't really sound like one, which is a good thing. Drum machines are no good. The album following this one, just called II, is a lot softer than this one, so be forwarned.

Standout tracks are "Long Voyage Back / Poison Wood", "Reflection" and "Nomadic Paths".

Monday May 31 2004, by :Vragh:

Kroll - 2003 - Jesous Christos Ave Satani

Presented on this demo by Australian Black Metallers Kroll are 14 aggressive tracks. The intro is very haunting, taken from the Omen soundtrack, though not "Ave Satani". The music presented here is very much in your face, with fuzzy guitars and distorted vocals being in the front of the mix, with the drum machine being a bit in the background. Musically this is mid-paced ("Drink the Blood") to fast (the rest) Black Metal. This actually reminds me mostly of Gorgoroth's cover of Darkthrone's "Slottet i det Fjerne" off of their Destroyer album, with some early Manes parts here and there, but the chaotic song structures, the soundquality and the vocals are very similar to the Gorgoroth track. The second track, "Drink the Blood" has a nice Volkurah sound to it.

As mentioned earlier, a drum machine is used here, but fortunately it doesn't sound too mechanical. The sound is rather harsh, which gives the music an extra edge. At times this is rather monotonous, but there are many unexpected twists on this album, and the entirety of the demo feels very refreshing.

This release clocks in at close to 48 minutes, so it's unusually long for a demo. Well worth to check
out if you're into the more aggressive kind of Black Metal. Limited to 300 copies.

Standout tracks are "Drink the Blood", "Inverted Crucifix" and "Alas... Death is Near".

Monday November 8 2004, by :Vragh:

Bleak Forest - 2005 - Fog Over the Highlands

Out of Australia comes this oneman band, presenting us with some serious Black Metal. The overall sound on this release is one reminding me of the early to mid '90ies. Not at all bad! Three tracks of mid-paced to fast, and at times slightly melodic Black Metal with some moody acoustic parts in it is what we are offered here. This reminds me slightly of Ildjarn at times, although not as primitive and repetitive, and here are some regular Metal influences present as well. Slight Thornium and early Ancient is also something I hear in this.

The vocals sound like growled snarls. Somehow I think of Dead's vocals on "Freezing Moon". Something in the way they are performed, perhaps, since they're not extremely similar.

The soundquality is a bit fuzzy and murky, which gives a nice extra touch to it all. The vocals are slightly in the back of the mix, but you can hear the drums and the guitar rather clear, at least. The guitar sounds really aggressive. Most excellent. The production on the last track, the added bonus to this re-release of the demo is slightly different, and the guitars on this recording are even fuzzier.

Standout tracks are "Fog Over the Highlands" and "Black Moon Rising". These are also the two tracks that appeared on the original demo. This is worth your time to locate. Limited to 200 copies.

Wednesday January 18 2006, by :Vragh: