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:

Lucifugum - 2006 - Involtation

Out of the Ukraine comes this productive Black Metal horde with their ninth album. This album took me by surprise, I must say. I have heard a few bands from the Ukraine, and most of them have had heavy keyboards on their recordings, so when I got this CD I was expecting just that. What greeted me was something quite different. The music is aggressive and slightly towards the melodic side of Black Metal with a few faster parts here and there, but mostly leaning towards the mid-paced. The guitars are the driving force in the music, which  is rather complex sounding, with the odd sample showing up here and there.

The music reminds me to a certain extent of a slower version of Nattens Madrigal era Ulver with a lot of Eastern European influences. Similarities to some of the old classic Czech bands like Master's Hammer and Törr can also be heard here. This album is not at all as chaotic as Nattens Madrigal, but has rather a sound of structure. Some small parts remind me of Immortal. There is something quite different in their sound, which makes them a bit hard to place.

The vocals have a to me distinct Eastern European feel to them, most likely due to the structure
of the language, and are rather guttural but harsh at the same time. There is a hint of Hoest of
Taake in them.

The soundquality again brings Ulver's Nattens Madrigal to mind strangely enough, since they are not
that similar. The soundquality is a lot clearer on this album, with a distinct sound of its own. The
production is very good, and the sound is clear, icy and sharp as a knife, with a slightly odd metallic
sound to it. You hear the guitars, which are somewhat fuzzy but still with this sharp edge to them, at the front of the mix, with the drums clearly audible, but towards the back, with the vocals inbetween.
There is the occasional keyboard, I must say I like it. I haven't really heard a nything quite like this band before. This is quite refreshing! CD limited to 1500 copies.

Standout tracks are "Яма Твоего Сна", "Оноравливание" and "Пределы Непостижимого".

Sunday October 12 2008, by :Vragh:

Eschaton - 2006 - Causa Fortior

Out of Greece comes this Black Metal horde with their first fullength album. We are presented with six tracks of mid-paced to fast and slightly melodic and depressive Black Metal. The music and sound has changed quite a bit since the demo from 2004, but this is still very good. This reminds me somewhat of Taake, for some reason, as well as the music presented on the 1349 mini cd. Some parts earlier Marduk are also present.

The vocals are rather reminiscent of the vocals by Garm on the first Borknagar album, if a bit more guttural, with parts Chuck Schuldiner of Death.

The soundquality here is slightly muffled and a bit chaotic, and there's more bass in their sound now than on their demo. The sound reminds me of the 1349 mcd mentioned earlier, as well as of that specific sound many of the Eastern European bands have. Very nice.

Standout tracks are "Glorious Crusade", "Transfigured Visions" and "Steel Glowing in Darkness".

Saturday October 21 2006, 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: