One Tail, One Head - 2008 - One Tail, One Head

Out of Norway comes this horde with their first demo containing four untitled tracks. Musically this reminds me a lot of the early half of the '90ies. Groovy Black Metal with a very classic sound and feel to it, somewhat reminding me of earlier Deathspell Omega at times.

The vocals mostly sound like a more desperate and guttural version of those by Fenriz on the first Dødheimsgard album and are moving with the music more than I expected. There are also some parts Mannevond of Koldbrann present.

The soundquality is typical demo sound, also reminiscent of the earlier years. This reminds me of the Emperor demo from -92, the music is a bit distant and though you do hear all the instruments, they are distant and some of the nuances of the music might get lost because of this, the first few times you listen to the tape. What can be heard most is the vocals, followed by the guitars and then the drums. This band is part of the Nidaros scene in Norway among such bands as Kaosritual, Selvhat,
Knokkelklang and Min Kniv. Grenjar and Vantro should also be mentioned. A very interesting scene for those of us who miss the raw sound of the earlier days.

Standout tracks are "I" and "IV".

Sunday August 23 2009, 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:

Nightbringer - 2005 - Rex Ex Ordine Throni

Out of the United States comes this Black Metal act with a promo of their part of a split with Temple of Not, a band they share members with. This promo consists of 4 tracks of mid-paced to rather fast and slightly melodic, wellplayed Black Metal in the vein of Emperor and Carpathian Forest, with parts Watain and a less plastic sounding Limbonic Art at times, even. An interesting mix of Norwegian Black Metal with a slightly American sound.

The vocals remind me a bit of those in earlier Emperor, Ancient and Dark Funeral, but with a slight American sounding twist to them.

The production is a bit towards the thin, rather like the early days of the scene. The drums are what you hear most in the mix, with quite a De Mysteriis feel to the sound of the fills. There is also a keyboard present, which is more towards the front of the mix on the two last tracks. The use of the keyboard is the main similarity to Carpathian Forest. This has clear potential.

Standout tracks are "The Void" and "Mors Philosophorum".

Sunday January 14 2007, by :Vragh:

Niden Div. 187 - 1997 - Impergium

Out of Sweden comes this Black Metal project, featuring members from other well known acts in the scene (Dawn, Thy Primordial and A Canorous Quintet). Presented on this album are ten tracks of blasting Black Metal Art at a total running time of just above 26 minutes. The hatred on this disc can almost be compared to the feeling of extreme hatred which permeates all Ildjarn releases. There the similarities stop, however. Musically this reminds me slightly of early Immortal, due to the speed, and Antaeus, though they have a slight Death Metal vibe in their music as well. Some sort of groove that isn't quite typical for Black Metal. Some samples are used, but not in a conventional way.

The vocals are typical for Henke Forss, rather high pitched raspy shrieks, quite like his performance
on later Dawn albums. A mix of Abbath and early Varg Vikernes, perhaps would describe them best.

The soundquality is slightly muffled, however all instruments are heard in the mix. Main focus is

shared between the drums, vocals and guitars. My only complaint would be that this album, as with many albums from the later '90ies, has the volume set rather low, so you need to turn up the volume when you play this album. This is, however, one of my favourite Swedish Black Metal albums. Rereleased together with the bands first MCD in 2004. Well worth checking out!

Stand out tracks are "Genocide", "The Execution" and "Hate".

Saturday August 22 2009, by :Vragh:

Nex Perpetui Regis - 2007 - Void Worship

Out of southern Sweden comes this Black Metal horde with their third demo. Five tracks of mid-paced to fast Black Metal is what we get. Musically this reminds me of early Armagedda, earlier Darkthrone and somewhat of Craft and even a hint of Morbid in one track.

The vocals remind me mostly of Gallhammer, a less high pitched Dim of Туман as well as Mikael Nox' performance on Craft's demo.

The soundquality is as one would expect of a demo recording. The drums are in the foreground, followed by the guitars and vocals. The tracks have been recorded at different times, as the
soundquality gets clearer on the third track. The cymbals do annoy at times, though.

Stand out tracks are "Void Worship" and "Culling the Weak".

Saturday August 22 2009, by :Vragh:

Necrovomitör - 2005 - Vomit Porn Satan

Out of Finland comes this thrashing Black Metal band with their first five track demo. Mid-paced Black Metal, in the vein of Dødheimsgard's Monumental Possession is what we get here, which basically describes it all. Even slightly groovy, at times.

The vocals remind me of those done by Aldrahn on Monumental Possession and those by Grendel of
Blodulv with some slight Satyr of Satyricon at times.

The production is harsh and a bit chaotic, which fits the music perfectly. What you hear in the mix is mostly the filthy sounding guitar, the vocals and the drums. There's just such an amazing raw power and aggression to this demo. My only complaint is that the demo feels a bit short. Limited to 150 copies.

Standout tracks are "Genuine Crackwhore Mutilation" and "Rotten Corpses in Vogue".

Saturday June 4 2005, by :Vragh: