Belgium
The fourth album for Belgian black metal horde Enthroned is one marked by internal instability, and external problems that keep it from reaching its intended goal. Beset by problems from every side “Armoured Bestial Hell” is what should have been a glorious continuation of the band’s generic but efficient
black metal
“Battles In the North” was the breakout album for Norwegian duo Immortal. It crystallized their sound into its most savage, unrelenting and pummeling format while retaining the band’s underdeveloped and underplayed atmospheric folk edge. Having always produced promotional videos for each of their albums, with “Masters Of Nebulah Frost”
Belgium
“The Apocalypse Manifesto”, the third Enthroned album and their one but last for British label imprint Blackend Records, who were more famous for their compilations than for the artists they contracted. It is the long anticipated recording where the band finally comes into its own, and at long last mastered
black metal
On its third album Norwegian black metal duo Immortal come into their own, and deliver their most conceptually complete recording. This third album takes the sound from “Pure Holocaust” and adds additional levels of speed, texture and density to it, without abandoning the atmospheric leanings of the band’s debut.
Alf Børjesson
On its third record for Nuclear Blast, Dimmu Borgir was at a critical juncture in its career. The personel changes had left the band in shambles in more ways than one, the creative juices weren’t flowing as strong as they once were and a band already short on ideas
Belgium
By the time their second album rolled out of the studio much had changed for the Belgians of Enthroned. After the ousting of Vincent Gerard (Tsebaoth) two new, more technically proficient guitarists were enlisted in Régis Lant (Nornagest) and Dimitri Gillard (Nebiros). Originally, drummer Dan Vandenplas (Cernunnos) was supposed to
black metal
The second Devian album isn’t so much of an improvement over the first as it is a mere continuation. Granted, at least the songs are structured better and more fluid on this album. The reality of the situation is that Devian never was a special, or good band to
Belgium
Enthroned was never a real black metal band in the traditional sense. Yes, they all wear corpse paint, spikes and the typical leather outfits – but superficialities aside, the band was only black metal as far as imagery and lyrical content was concerned. Musically, they tap various genre wells outside of
black metal
Somewhere in the early 2000s the mid period Marduk line-up splintered with vocalist Erik Hagstedt and drummer Emil Dragutinovic exiting the fold. It was perhaps not surprising that both men eventually ended up forming a new band that sounded anything like their previous engagement. Thus was born Devian. Devian was
black metal
With its second album “Pure Holocaust” Norwegian band Immortal comfortably transitioned into its known style. Whereas “Diabolical Fullmoon Mysticism” was slower, drenched in death metal stylings and generally on the atmospheric side, this new album is anything but. It is here that Immortal adopt its barbaric, minimalistic style of black
black metal
One of the few good things that could be said about “Enthrone Darkness Triumphant”, outside of how catchy it was, is that it had a modicum of restraint and the good taste to rein in the band’s pompousness. The follow-up to that ill-fated record fares less well, as what
black metal
If one was to look at the blueprints for the Norsecore style, three records come to mind instantly. Marduk’s “Heaven Shall Burn…”, Immortal’s “Battles In the North” and Dark Funeral ’s “The Secrets Of the Black Arts”. All three laid down the tropes and conventions and are historically