Weakling - 2004 - Dead as Dreams

This American horde is one of the few exceptions to the rule "American Black Metal is not that good". This is a monster of an album, 5 tracks, 76 minutes long and it is an intense wall of sound all the way through. Weakling play a progressive kind of Black Metal, with screamed, angstridden vocals throughout the album. The vocals sound similar to earlier Burzum at times. There are metal and doom influences here as well as traces of both Shining and Black Sabbath, and  keyboards are also used in places. This is not, however, a Dimmu Borgir kind of keyboard, this is more of a mood setter in the background. Unfortunately this is the only album that they ever recorded before disbanding.

The music is midpaced to fast and these guys sure know how to handle their instruments. The massive parts of the songs are kept apart by very well executed calmer parts and nice tempo changes.
These guys sure knew how to do it. The production on this album is very harsh and it adds to the overall feel of this album. This is yet another one of the hidden gems of Black Metal.

Standout tracks are "This Entire Fucking Battlefield" and "No One May Be Called as a Man While He'll Die".

Friday May 28 2004, by :Vragh:

Watain - 2004 - Casus Luciferi

Another one of the Swedish bands that have emerged from the dark depths have released their second album, the follow up to Rabid Death's Curse, and they have made great progress. The opening of this album is as much De Mysteriis as is possible, almost to the point of plagiarism. This does not last, but there are many De Mysteriis moments throughout this album, the bass in "Opus Dei (The Morbid Angel)" is another example. Some Shining moments are present on this album too, and the intro to the title track is very much Black Sabbath.

The soundquality has been greatly improved since their last album, and the heavy Death Metal influence that was prevalent on their debut isn't as much in your face here. Greatly improved soundquality doesn't mean perfect, since it was rather bad on Rabid Death's Curse, but it is rather good here, more treble oriented, with the guitars slightly in the foreground.

Overall this album is a lot more listenable than their first, mainly because of the improved soundquality and also a lot better material. They have also rerecorded "Puzzlez ov Flesh" for the album.  Watain plays fast Black Metal, just the way I like it.

Standout tracks are "Black Salvation", "I Am the Earth" and "The Golden Horns of Darash".

On a sidenote I find it strange that both Watain and Abruptum release an album with the exact same title only a few months apart.

Thursday May 20 2004, by :Vragh:

The Frost - 2005 - In Conspiracy With Nature

Out of Croatia comes this one man Black Metal band with a first demo. The music presented on these three tracks is slow to mid-paced, and at times even slightly melodic, Black Metal. Musically this reminds me of Long Voyage Back, Shining, Armagedda and Blodulv. A drum machine is utilized here, but it doesn't sound as bad as the average drum machine does.

The vocals sound like a mix of Graav of Armagedda, Erik of Watain and those of Grendel in Blodulv and are really well done, aggressive and angry, just as it should be.

The quality of the recording is really quite good, with a clear and full sound. This does not sound like an average demo recording, but rather as a professional album recording. Very impressive. I would strongly urge you to buy this demo. Limited to 120 copies.

Standout track is without a doubt the extremely good "...Where the Wolves Path Lead" with

its sound of the '90ies.

Saturday June 4 2005, by :Vragh:

Semper Mors - 2004 - In Endless Despondency

From Greece comes this one man Black Metal band, presenting us with a three track demo of slow to mid-paced Black Metal. Musically I find both Transilvanian Hunger and Panzerfaust era Darkthrone here, as well as some Shining and Armagedda. Some interesting progressive parts are present here, as well. The vocals are similar to those by Nocturno Culto, only sounding more desperate. Despite this being a one man project real drums are used.

The soundquality here could have been a bit better. Lots of treble, and a quite chaotic sound in general. It takes a few listens to get used to it.

Of the tracks on this demo only one is shorter than ten minutes, which makes for a total of 25 minutes playing time, which is quite good for a demo. If you like your Black Metal raw and harsh you should definitely check out this demo.

Standout track is "In Endless Despondency".

Saturday February 12 2005, by :Vragh:

Ondskapt - 2004 - Draco Sit Mihi Dux

Out of the Swedish Black Metal scene comes Ondskapt with their first fullength album, following their debut mini lp Slave Under His Immortal Will. It took me a few listens to get into this album, but it is a very good one. Here are many an influence. The soundquality is a little dark and the sound is more bassoriented than is common in Black Metal.

The vocals remind me of a slightly less bizarre De Mysteriis era Attila Csihar, operatic and with a sound of desperation. On this album are both moments that could have been taken from De Mysteriis era Mayhem as well as from Angst era Shining. Mostly this is not an album that is built upon fast double bass drums, the tempo is more towards the midpaced with tracks around 6-10 minutes long.

The allover sound on the recording and the vocals creates a very dark mood. Some truly amazing riffing on this album. If you enjoy Mayhem, Attila Csihar and Shining you are going to enjoy this album. This is a well executed, very professional piece of Black Metal Art.

Standout tracks are "III" and "VI".

Thursday May 20 2004, by :Vragh:

Obscurus Advocam - 2004 - Fervour and Devotion

This French Black Metal horde has unleashed their demo upon the underground. Presented on this tape are five tracks, including intro and outro, of mostly mid-paced Black Metal featuring members of Glorior Belli.

The music reminds me of the mid '90ies, with a sound reminding me somewhat of Ondskapt and Shining, being slightly melodic and depressive Black Metal. The vocals are at times similar to those by Attila on De Mysteriis, but mostly they sound like a more guttural version of those by Akhenaten
of Judas Iscariot.

The soundquality is a bit murky, and the volume of the recording is lower than average, but I really like this demo. It just emanates an aura of darkness. There's this dark feeling in the music that many bands of today just don't have.

Standout tracks are "II" and "V".

Tuesday January 4 2005, by :Vragh:

Bergraven - 2004 - Fördärv

Here we have the first album by this Swedish one man Black Metal act. Seven tracks ranging from slow to fast and furious Black Metal is what you get here. The demo tracks have been re-recorded and are present as well as four brand new ones.

The sound is much sharper and clearer than on the demo, with the drums feeling a bit less mechanical, and the guitars sounding much more aggressive and  deadly.

Musically this is a continuation of the demo. I still hear both Shining and Taake in the music, mixed with the own ideas, but the new material is more towards the faster spectrum of Black Metal. The vocals are better and harsher here, mostly reminding me of those done by Legion on Ophthalamia's Via Dolorosa album and Vorph of Samael. This is truly a crushing debut! Limited to 1000 copies.

Standout tracks are "Den Förpestade" and "Autofagia".

January 10 2005, by :Vragh:

Bergraven - 2003 - Ty Döden Färdas Snabbt Demo

This Swedish band features only one member on this recording, so a drum machine is used. Fortunately the drum machine sounds better than most. Presented on this demo are three tracks of  depressive Black Metal in the vein of Shining and the likes, with some slight Taake influences at times - slower, moody Black Metal with faster parts.

I really like the guitar sound here, grim and dirty, but still with a good soundquality. The intro sounds a lot like earlier Mortiis, but this intro continues into the first track, and when the guitars kick in you have forgotten about the intro altogether. The vocals sound a bit guttural and really great, there's a slight Immortal feel to them.

Good material and well executed. Be sure to keep an eye out for the fullength that will be released during summer 2004.

The tracks that stand out are "Dagen Efter Döden" and "Offer (för Döden)".

Wednesday May 26 2004, by :Vragh:

Arallu - 2005 - The Demon of the Ancient World

Out of Israel comes this Black Metal band with their third fullength. Fast thrashing Black Metal, with middle-eastern influences is what we get here. This sounds alot like Tara era Absu, although not always as insanely fast, with a bit of Operation Winter Mist in it, as well. The themes for the lyrics are old Mesopotamia, and the middle-eastern influences are most refreshing to hear. Very interesting!

The vocals sound at times a lot like those by Proscriptor of Absu, but mostly they just have that updated Thrash sound that you'll find in Cadaver Inc. and the likes, with parts sounding like the desperate shrieks you find in Black Metal like Sterbend and Shining.

The soundquality here is very similar to Absu's album Tara. A clear, sharp sound with the treble cutting through, and with a slightly unclear bass. The vocals and the guitars are in the front of the mix, with the drums being somewhat muffled and slightly in the back, along with the bass. I am not usually a huge fan of the whole Thrash influence thing, but this is a real good album!

Standout tracks are "Dingir Xul", "War Spirit", "Battleground", "Sierra Nevada" and "The Sumerian Words".

Saturday October 21 by :Vragh:

Angst - 2003 - Divine Wrath

Swedish Black Metallers Angst have some really raw and catchy riffs here. On this release Angst were forced to utilize a drum machine, since the drummer suffered a knee injury. I am not that fond of drum machines, but this one isn't as in your face as many can be, and the guitars cover up the more inorganic sounds of it. On the forthcoming 7" a new drummer has been added to the ranks, which will be very interesting to hear.

Presented on this promo are four tracks, and they sound like Swedish Black Metal of today. Slightly catchy, a good production, some parts remind me of Watain other parts remind me of Shining. Not bad at all. Mostly midpaced to faster Black Metal here, with some slower parts and some Metal influences as well.

The production is good and clear. The vocals remind me a bit of those of Carpathian Forest and earlier Marduk. A new album is to be recorded in 2004.

Standout tracks are "The Aeon of Genocide" and "Deathraped".

Tuesday May 25 2004, by :Vragh: