Reviews for Black Metal, Death Metal and some Ambient! The concept behind this site is to do full discography reviews. I will do my best to track down an entire discography to celebrate a band's evolution. I'm pretty strict on sticking to those genres, so please don't request I review something else. I also buy the vast majority of all the things I review and I don't really take promos from labels or demos from bands. If you're worth hearing, I will probably find you.
Showing posts with label Finnish Black Metal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Finnish Black Metal. Show all posts
While I may have missed out on the Riivaus demo, I may as well just dive right in, because I have good news. The riffs are here. This debut full length is overflowing with some excellent and serious Black Metal riffing. Somehow another riff master has appeared on the Finnish Black Metal scene and it's always weird to see how this manages to keep going. But it does and while bands like Riivaus certainly aren't re-inventing the wheel here, I still wind up thoroughly enjoying the album and I'll probably listen to it often enough.
Riivaus is probably an amalgamation of all the great riffing bands in Finland. You certainly hear Horna as the mainstay style, but you get touches of Sargeist, Nekrokrist SS, Satanic Warmaster, Nattfog and I'm sure a thousand others that exist and can't recall at the moment. All of this makes for a wonderfully solid listen. In the booklet it says the album was recorded between 2014 to 2016, so obviously a lot of care and curation went into this music creation and I'm thankful for that. Sometimes bands just throw together an album and move onto the next riff, instead of writing a few riffs slowly over time to see if they can make something really special. It seems like Riivaus put time into the latter and it paid off with a good album where it doesn't feel like there is any filler riffs. Every song has a core catchiness that pulls the listener in immediately. Now the real challenge for this project is to see if they can pull this off again.
This is a highly recommended debut if you are a fan of the Finnish style of Black Metal. It really does have everything that draws us into that genre and for whatever reason I don't seem to be getting tired of this regardless of how many projects Finland produces.
Nekrokrist SS - X-mas Ritual
Spread Evil Distribution, 2016
Genre: Black Metal
1. Itsemurha jouluaamuna
2. Renki
Well, this is an usual thing, two Nekrokrist SS releases in a year?! "X-mas" ritual was released on cassette and is limited to 88 copies. This tape comes with a pro booklet and dubbed tape with stickers. I'm actually surprised it's not hand-numbered. "Itsemurha jouluaamuna" begins with a sort of medieval folk sample, before launching into a scream where the song truly begins. It's probably one of the shortest Nekrokrist SS songs clocking in at under three minutes. However, it's a fast and catchy tune. "Renki" on the other hand is a slower more morose jaunt that has a bit of the older folk feel in the guitar arrangement. Unlike some of their long songs that start off slow and pick-up later, this song never does that, so just enjoy plodding arrangement. I'm not sure this is a must have in the Nekrokrist SS arrangement, but if you like collecting their material and hearing everything they put out then it's worth it.
Nekrokrist SS & Infamous Split
Hammerbund, 2016
Genre: Black Metal
Nekrokrist SS:
1. Lähtölaukaus
2. Antakaa Jo Kuolla
3. The Circle
4. Herrani Viha Infamous:
5. Decadenza I
6. Decadenza II
7. Among these Cold Walls
Side Infamous: ...coming eventually...
Side Nekrokrist SS:
This year brings us an excellent split from Nekrokrist SS along with another project I really love Infamous. This was originally released on tape, but was later released on CD by Obscure Abhorrence. I have the CD edition (pictured above). Even though this is being released in 2016, these really aren't new Nekrokrist SS songs, since this was recorded way back in 2011, so this is more in line with the material we heard on the split with Nattfog. I do wonder how much material Nekrokrist SS is just sitting on and not releasing. Either way, once again this has some solid material on it and "Herrani Viha" has some of the more excellent riffs Nekrokrist SS has ever written! An absolute must have split.
Nekrokrist SS & Vöedtæmhtëhactått - I am the Chaos, the Abyss and the Gloom
Darker Than Black, 2015
Genre: Black Metal
Vöedtæmhtëhactått:
1. Christ Promised Never to Return
2. I came to Call Sinners, but Not the Righteous
3. And He Said - Satan!
4. The Divine Blighter Nekrokrist SS:
5. Viimeinen Rukous
6. Tuomiolla
7. Tappajan Laulu
Side: ...Vöedtæmhtëhactått...
Side: Nekrokrist SS
Starting with a scream and launching into the catchy riffing I've come to expect from Nekrokrist SS we begin our journey of three new songs. As usual we have the yearly split from this project and this time it's pressed into 12" vinyl similar to the split with Nattfog. This release is also limited to only 333 copies. As with the other Nekrokrist SS releases nothing has changed really and we simply get three more songs of their usual style, although I feel their compositions are getting stronger as the band continues to write new material. I feel like the songs have a more cohesive element to them than when the project first began and their blending of droning riffs with catchy riffs is becoming more and more seamless as they write more material. Nekrokrist SS is, basically, a mark of consistently well performed Black Metal for me and while some listeners may gripe about the lack of change over the years, I'm pretty happy with this approach! I hope they stay this way for many years to come, although it doesn't give me much to talk about when it comes to reviewing individual releases.
Förgjord & Nekrokrist SS Split
Hammer of Hate, 2014
Genre: Black Metal
Förgjord:
1. Jättäkää minut korpeille (osa 1)
2. Kasketun maan laulu
3. Mieltensä sairastama
4. Kerpeikkari Nekrokrist SS:
5. Musta viha
6. Tyhjyys
7. Hyljätty
8. Jättäkää minut korpeille (osa 1)
Side Förgjord: ...coming eventually...
Side Nekrokrist SS:
Now that we've got the full length out of the way we can return to our regularly scheduled split program! Nekrokrist SS has really hit a solid writing point and that continues with this split. "Musta viha" begins rather normally and nothing ear catching, but once we get a minute into the song we hit this exceptional riff sequence and the song really takes off. Easily one of the stronger Nekrokrist SS riffs in their catalog. Then we delve into the slower song "Tyhjyys", which doesn't pick up the pace until well into the song, but that's fine it has kind of an interesting contrast from the faster opening of their side. After this we delve into the lengthy dark and plodding "Hyljätty" which is an excellent closer to their side of the split. While it's not the usual fast paced hateful style, it's a little slower and has a lot more elements of melody in the song. This might create a bad contrast, but it really does work very well for their style and just like "Tyhjyys" the song does eventually pick up its tempo about half way through. Unfortunately, to me, nothing could match the majesty of that spectacular riff in "Musta viha", but the other two tracks didn't try to hit that mark, which was probably a good idea, because we can just simply enjoy them in their own right, instead of trying to compare them back to the opening song.
Nekrokrist SS - Der Todesking
Primitive Reaction, 2013
Genre: Black Metal
1. Perkeleestä Syntynyt
2. Crematory Hymn (Burn in Hell)
3. Satan Calls Your Name
4. Kuolontanssi
5. Vala
6. Kirous
7. Der Todesking
Finally we hear a new full length from Nekrokrist SS and it's everything I ever hoped it would be! Raw Black Metal doesn't get much better than this and "Der Todesking" is an absolute must have album in my book. From start to finish it's probably one of the finest albums recorded in this realm of Black Metal. If you've always been a fan of the Finnish sound and enjoy bands such as Horna or Behexen, then Nekrokrist SS' "Der Todesking" should land high on your list as a must have.
"Der Todesking" falls in a very similar vein as the material we heard on the split with Faagrim, only this time we get the full length experience I truly wanted to hear when that split was released. My one and only complaint is that this could have been one song longer to get us closer to that forty minute mark, rather than just squeaking over the thirty minute mark. Either way, I'm grateful for a full length and I find myself playing it regularly as one of my go to albums for the more raw style of Black Metal. It really does sit on a similar level to Horna's "Envataangs Eflos" or Behexen's "By the Blessing of Satan" although "Der Todesking" doesn't sound exactly like these projects. "Der Todesking", while not re-inventing the Black Metal wheel, manages to put together a series of extremely strong songs that really make the album stand apart from other bands in this genre. I think some people will be overly quick to dismiss this project since it sounds similar to the bands above and early Satanic Warmaster, but I manage to find enough difference in the way Nekrokrist SS approach the genre that I find it immensely well done. And then there's the quality of songwriting. Not every Black Metal clone can write like this, while there are hundreds that sound like this, there are very few who write like this and that's what sets them apart. Just listen to the riff that hits about three and half minutes into "Vala" and you will know what I'm talking about. That song hits the raw Black Metal sweet spot so perfectly.
So, if you like your Black Metal vicious, raw and harsh, filled with all the hatred Black Metal was meant to filled with then "Der Todesking" is an instant classic, in my opinion. As usual, I will continue to look forward to anything else that comes from this project. They have yet to let me down and I can't imagine them changing anytime soon and that is why "Der Todesking" will be in consideration for my top ten.
Nekrokrist SS & Faagrim - Strike of the Northern Legions
Darker Than Black, 2012
Genre: Black Metal
Nekrokrist SS:
1. Dawn of Purification
2. Liekki
3. Gates of Insanity Faagrim:
4. Through the Snow
5. Warriors of the Unlight
6. Comes Winter, Comes Sadness
7. Der Größte Bastard
Side Faagrim: ...coming eventually...
Side Nekrokrist SS:
I'm getting fairly accustomed to the yearly Nekrokrist SS release, but the split trend is only okay, I feel pretty ready for a new Nekrokrist SS full-length release. This split with Faagrim is in truly high order with both projects putting some great Black Metal into the release.
This split has some of the strongest Nekrokrist SS songs so far, they're extremely catchy yet viciously cold all at once. It's a perfect blend into their raw Black Metal style, which is why I am so ready to hear a full length now. The main reason is because three songs just isn't enough, I just want a solid forty or so minutes of this kind of material and I know the band can certainly deliver. While the music is not changing much, their overall songwriting structure has steadily been improving, so with each new release I enjoy it even more than the last and this split is no exception. Just listen to how excellent "Liekki" sounds!
Nattfog & Nekrokrist SS
Primitive Reaction, 2011
Genre: Black Metal
Nattfog:
1. Yöni usvassa
2. Ancestral Echoes
3. Under the Cross of Woden Nekrokrist SS:
4. Path of Depression
5. Gas Chambers, Crematory and Hell
6. Talviyössä
Another year another split, but I'm usually always excited to hear new material from Nekrokrist SS and this time they teamed up with the mighty Nattfog. Nattfog is also an extremely excellent project and I highly recommend their material as well. This was released on 12" vinyl only and limited to 500 copies.
Nekrokrist hasn't changed, at all as you'd expect, but this split does have some nice features. "Path of Depression" and "Talviyössä" are all new songs and they sound very good, as you'd expect. "Gas Chambers, Crematory and Hell" is a re-recording from their demo and with this line-up and quality it really shows that the song was actually quite good and merely marred by very poor production and probably performance at that time. "Path of Depression" is our usual faster paced Black Metal, but the lengthy "Talviyössä" takes a much slower term. Predominantly a mid-paced track it has a very sorrowful feel to it as we dragged down this plodding path.
In the end we get three great songs from two great bands, and you can't go wrong with that. Half the time the splits only have one good band, but not in this case!
Four Chapters of Satanic Evil
Azermedoth Records, 2010
Genre: Black Metal
Mystes:
1. Battlefield
2. Deadly Riders Nekrokrist SS:
3. Scars
4. Nekrokrist Khaos Abyssi:
5. Into...
6. The True Signs
7. Dead Gods
8. Plague and Pest Calvarium Funestus:
9. Kult ov Funestum Spiritus
10. Call of the Imperial Throne
Side Mystes: ...coming eventually...
Side Khaos Abyssi: ...coming eventually...
Side Calvarium Funestus: ...coming eventually...
Side Nekrokrist SS:
Participating in Finnish Black Metal just wouldn't be complete unless you get involved in a long string of split releases. This begins Nekrokrist SS' foray into the deluge of split releases that surround the Black Metal scene. I actually enjoy splits from time to time, but I'm not that fond of four way splits. I, personally, prefer two bands on a split, but here we have four. The only other band I've heard of on this split is Mystes and I quite enjoyed the material I heard from them.
Nekrokrist only offers up a couple songs for this, but things are a little different this time around. First off, the band has a full line-up now, so that is an interesting change. I wonder if the project will be more consistent in recording and releasing music. Another major change is that they tried to clean up the harsh production quite a bit. I think they've managed to strike a good balance between being absurdly harsh and just harsh enough to give your songs some nice chainsaw edge to them. Here we get one new song called "Scars" and it is quite an excellent song, picking up pretty closely to where the self-titled EP left off with the first three songs. The other track is a re-recording of "Nekrokrist," which first appeared on the demo from 2003. Cleaned up, this track actually sounds considerably better than the original tape.
Nekrokrist SS - Nekrokrist SS
Satan's Millennium Productions, 2009
Genre: Black Metal
1. Knife
2. Divine Light
3. There's No Place for You
4. Cremation
5. Cold and Black Grave
After waiting a couple years we have the pleasure of hearing a new Ep from Nekrokrist SS. I was hoping "Suicide" wasn't just a fluke in their discography and instead would indicate the new direction for the project. It really has! This self-titled release is spectacular. The first three songs are newer, written and recorded in 2007, while the last two date all the way back to 2003.
The first three songs have a more sorrowful feel to the riffing style. In many ways it's a bit more reminiscent of something Sargeist would do, or the way they tend to structure their riffs. Nekrokrist SS manages to have their own sound, relatively speaking, throughout this release. As you might expect things take a very drastic shift on the last two songs. The production is far worse then the opening three. The rawness actually works against the songs in this case, even though the riffs are still pretty good. I'd love to hear these songs re-recorded, everything just sounds so wish-washy as it pushes through this song with a weird wave-like feel to the overall sound and production. I'm kind of surprised they didn't bother to re-record the material so that it fit better with the first three songs, because now this isn't going to end on a very high note... but it's not like they could just put them at the beginning, because in most cases people wouldn't wait to discover the rest of the release, which is very good.
Ah well, it might not be the greatest thing, but I really did enjoy the opening three songs. If you're a fan of that Finnish style of raw Black Metal, then those are definitely worth hearing, the last two are only good if you really like extremely raw and poorly produced music, to the point where it's hard to hear what's going on.
Nekrokrist SS - Suicide
Primitive Reaction, 2007
Genre: Black Metal
1. Suicide is Only Way
2. Itsemurha
3. My Blood on Altar
4. The End is Disgusting Life
5. Let Churches Burn
6. Stench of the Burning Corpses
7. Waiting the Mass Destruction
8. Shoot Yourself
"Suicide" is the debut release from Nekrokrist SS and it does not come on the heels of their demo. The demo was originally released back in 2003. So, it's been quite a wait to get an album out of this project. Topically I feel like this project has changed quite a bit. Despite the "SS" in the name, this really isn't an NSBM project and the band has even said as much. So, don't get confused with the demo tape, I think they were going more for the standard fair celebration of mass death plus being offensive all in one go. At least, that's the aesthetic I was getting from the demo.
Now, onto the music. Compared to the demo this is a huge step up in quality. "Suicide" presents us with some very fine Finnish Black Metal, hitting all the right chords that make me love the music from this particular region of the world. The demo tape felt like it had more of a punkier edge to the songwriting, but "Suicide" has more of a Horna type of edge to the music. I much prefer the Horna way of things, so I feel like this project is certainly trending in the right direction if they keep this up! They have one moment that has that Punk feel in "Waiting the Mass Destruction" but the style is more subdued this time around.
All in all this is a surprising change from the demo, but it's a pleasant surprise on my end. They also managed to keep the ultra raw style of recording for this release and it worked with the style very well. Don't expect anything except raw hatred from this project. "Suicide" has great riffs and great harsh atmosphere, so I'm definitely interested in following this project to see where it takes them next.
Nattfog - Mustan Auringon Riitti
Hammer of Hate, 2012
Genre: Black Metal
1. Blinding Fog
2. Path of the White Wolves
3. Reaching to the Stars
4. Mieleni Mustissa Merissä
5. Kosmisen Usvan Ympäröimänä
6. Mustan Auringon Riitti
7. Kaksitoista Askelta Luvattuun Valtakuntaan
Finally, we have reached Nattfog's debut full-length. I'm rather surprised this is on the heals of their split with Nekrokrist SS, but it seems the band may have been more productive in writing new material since 2008 than I previously thought, given the fact all of this was recorded in 2010.
The music on "Mustan Auringon Riitti" is a bit slower and more contemplative than the prior Nattfog material. The earlier material feels harsher and more hateful. Even though the production quality on these tracks is a bit better and more clear, Nattfog still maintains that gritty harsh feel to their overall sound. Sure, some of the earlier style shines through every now and again, but their slower, more melancholic approach really dominates the entirety of this release. I really enjoyed both sides of the project for different reasons. I sort of hope that they play around with blending the styles for future efforts, because that would sound rather interesting in its own regard. As it is, I imagine fans of their previous work will continue to enjoy this approach to their sound.
This is a very strong debut and brings us something a little different from previous efforts. I wouldn't say they're re-inventing anything, but Nattfog does an excellent job crafting this style of music, so I can't imagine fans will find it particularly disappointing.
Nattfog & Nekrokrist SS Split
Primitive Reaction, 2011
Genre: Black Metal
Nattfog:
1. Yöni Usvassa
2. Ancestral Echoes
3. Under the Cross of Woden Nekrokrist SS:
4. Path of Depression
5. Gas Chambers, Crematory and Hell
6. Talviyössä
It's been a few years since we've heard from the realms of Nattfog and I'm kind of surprised to see them resurface with only three songs on a split. Over that time frame, I figured more music would come, but that's fine, because we get a split with Nekrorkist SS, which is another excellent band out of Finland. This split is limited to 500 copies and pressed on 12" vinyl. It comes with a lyric sheet insert as well.
If you found yourself enamored with the demo material, then you'll be pleased to hear that little has changed in the way Nattfog approach their music. This is easily a continuation of the style we were first exposed to. The opening song is a mid-paced catchy and melodic piece, which is exactly what I wanted to hear out of Nattfog. The second track, "Ancestral Echoes" speeds things up a bit and we are driven by the standard Black Metal blast beat, but not at a blisteringly fast pace. This song, over it's eight minutes, manages to form into a piece with some extremely passionate and wonderful closing rhythms. We finally close with the slow, yet hateful, "Under the Cross of Woden", which serves as a wonderful closer. These three tracks make it even worse that this isn't a full-length. Nattfog is definitely ready for it with their sound and writing style. Hopefully, that's coming in the near future.
Nattfog - Nattfog
Wolfsvuur Records, 2008
Genre: Black Metal
1. Diabolical Winds
2. At the Shadows of the Fallen Walls
3. Everlasting Fields
The first rumblings of Nattfog were ushered in in 2008. The original format was in a CD-R form coming from the band, but the music was so strong that a few months later it was pressed officially on tape. There have been two pressings of this tape with pro-printed cover so far, both pressings limited to 150 hand-numbered copies. I own a 2nd press and have #106. This just goes to show the strength of Nattfog's first work upon entering the Black Metal scene.
If you've been enamored with the Finnish Black Metal sound along the lines of Horna and other harsher compatriots then Nattfog is exactly something you will enjoy. The Nattfog demo is harsh, catchy and has some really wonderful melodies strewn throughout. Nattfog is like a more well tempered Horna, meaning they don't assault us with blasting fierceness, instead Nattfog has a bit more of a melancholic bent a la the Horna's slower renditions. A band performing an entire demo of this style is actually really awesome.
If the above description is, at all, appealing then you know Nattfog is off to a rather strong start. I can't wait to see how this project evolves in the future. Definitely a project to be watching...
Tyhjyys - Tyhjyys
Grievantee Productions, 2010
Genre: Black Metal
1. 0
2. 1
3. 2
4. 3
5. 4
6. 5
7. 6
8. 7
Hailing out of Finland Tyhjyys really plays up the obscurity factor. Not much information can be found about the project. The reason I wound up picking this up is solely due to the fact that I've enjoyed a lot of Grievantee's releases over the years, so I decided to try my luck with this as well. As usual, Tyhjyys proves to be a solid band for their debut full length.
Tyhjyys sort of sits somewhere between the realms of harsh Black Metal and atmospheric Black Metal. I don't think the riffing is quite enough to push it to that atmospheric level that I'd expect from the likes of Csejthe, but there are moments where this is surely the case. Listen to the song "5" and you'll hear riffing that transcends the standard fair Black Metal. Even so, Tyhjyys, sits somewhere in the glory of Horna and some of the more raw German styled bands I find quite endearing. The vocal performance is a little weak, but its wisely put in the back of the mix. Despite the lackluster performance here, it really doesn't mar the overall nature of the music. The vocals are also show up quite sparingly throughout the release, so the real focus is on the music and Tyhjyys gives us a great experience in that regard. They do a pretty good job between having some fast raging sections and slow melancholic periods. The real problem with this release is that at first glance it feels painfully generic, but you need to listen to this multiple times to really tease out the charm of the release. Only then do we realize that the foundation being laid here is quite well done.
With such a solid foundation, I am curious to see where Tyhjyys would go next. Will they release something in the future? Or will this be their lone standing effort and allow the project to fall into true obscurity where only a few listeners remain to remember what was done here...
Cabaret for Bereaved - Demo 95
Self-Released, 1995
Genre: Black Metal
1. Intro (Immortal Loyalness)
2. On Cold Wings
3. Ice Floe is Sinking
4. Seeds for Nothing
5. Candle Burns in Storm
6. Pahuuden Kuolema
7. King has Won
8. The Calling
9. Freezing Day
10. The Undead
I picked this up solely based on the fact that Gaamalzagoth performed vocals on this. I really didn't know what to expect from this, but I can't say this is really my style of Black Metal. Cabaret for Bereaved bring us ten songs heavily laden with synth, making this more of an Ambient Black Metal type of release. I wonder if there was any influence from the early Blut aus Nord realm, because some of these keyboard approaches seem similar.
The demo is definitely in the lo-fi spectrum of the genre, but the music isn't fast. In fact, the music is quite slow to mid-paced for the most part. It's actually quite poorly performed as well. There are missed hits and off-time parts with the drums. The guitar work sort of fumbles around and feels off at times. Sometimes the keyboards work and at other times they don't. There's a time in "Ice Floe is Sinking" where it's just keyboard and drums, which sounds very bad. I think the intent was a dark and brooding atmosphere, which is only high-lighted by the Doom styled pacing. But the poor instrumentation makes this nearly unlistenable. The attempt at a solo in "Pahuuden Kuolema", is just off-putting. "The Calling" is atrocious. It's an all Ambient styled track with mostly feedback and samples being played over and over again. It doesn't even make sense in the context of the rest of the music. Even Gaamalzagoth's vocal performance is a bit different. Granted, it does happen to fit the music. He sticks to a rather low-key performance with a more talking/rasp approach to the vocals. This is quite different from his intense wails during the Moonblood recordings.
I don't think I can recommend this demo to anyone. Unless you're extremely into that lo-fi Black Metal style and find sloppy instrumentation endearing? There are times when the style works, but it's not enough to really draw me in. Makes sense that this is a long forgotten demo from the early days. The main musician p. Mölsä doesn't seem to have gone on to do anything else after this, so that's another reason for this being lost to history.
Sargeist - Feeding the Crawling Shadows
W.T.C. Productions, 2014
Genre: Black Metal
1. Feeding the Crawling Shadows
2. In Charnel Dreams
3. Unto the Undead Temple
4. Snares of Impurity
5. Return of the Rats
6. The Unspoken Ones
7. The Shunned Angel
8. Inside the Demon's Maze
9. Kingdom Below
10. Funerary Descend
I feel like a new Sargeist appeared out of nowhere this year. Before we knew it, all of a sudden there was a new Sargeist release available. I really had no idea it was coming or that anything was even being worked on. However, the tall order to attempt to outdo "Let the Devil In" still stands. I think Sargeist knew this after they released that album and how critically acclaimed it was. Perhaps they thought they'd reached the pinnacle of that stylistic approach, but "Feeding the Crawling Shadows" feels like a rather different approach to the Sargeist style.
The riffing style and approach hasn't changed very much, but the atmosphere they've built on "Feeding the Crawling Shadows" is almost entirely different. It's not just because they're using harsh production to its full effect either. Here they've taken a step back from "Let the Devil In" and where that album felt immense and triumphant, "Feeding the Crawling" shadows feels extremely bleak and hateful. Rather than approach the riff structure as they had done before, here they will let sequences drone on at times, creating this layer of darkness that wasn't as present before. At points I feel like I hear some Katharsis showing through as on parts of "Unto the Undead Temple". Furthermore, I think they're trying to harness some production elements featured from Tenebrae in Perpetuum's style, but recast those approaches in the Sargeist style. The end result is, basically, an entirely different sounding Sargeist album. Which was a great idea, since perhaps there really was no topping "Let the Devil In", so the best thing to do was approach the style from a different angle. Another major difference that shows up here is Torog's vocal approach. Sure, he still uses the traditional high ranged rasp we've all come to love, but he also goes for a deeper commanding styled voice at times throughout the album. Similar to the chorus section of the song "Let the Devil In". For the most part this vocal approach works out very well, the one complaint I have is that sometimes its pretty loud in the mix and it drowns out the music. This was painfully clear on the opening song "Feeding the Crawling Shadows", so much so that it somewhat marred the enjoyability of listening to that song. As the album moves on, I feel like things get a little better... or I just got used to the production over time.
In the end, I'm not sure I think this is better than "Let the Devil In". It is tough to compare the releases on any level, as they are quite different. I think "Feeding the Crawling Shadows" is breaking new ground for Sargeist and they will, perhaps, have to run the same track and fully develop this edge into something as compelling and awe inspiring as "Let the Devil In". Only the future will tell, for now, I am glad to see this new track being developed. It could be an even stronger method as it develops further and it will be great to see that eventually happen.
Sargeist - The Rebirth of a Cursed Existence
W.T.C. Productions, 2013
Genre: Black Metal
1. Reaping with Curses & Plague
2. The Rebirth of a Cursed Existence
3. Sinister Glow of the Funeral Torches
4. Wraith Messiah
5. Cursed be the Flesh I have Spared
6. Vorax Obscurum
7. Black Unholy Happiness
8. The Covenant Rite
9. Dead Ravens Memory
10. Crimson Wine
11. Dark Embrace
12. The Crown of Burning Stars
13. The Moon Growing Colder
14. Nightmares and Necromancy
This isn't a new album, instead it is a compilation of a lot of songs that never made it onto albums over the years. Basically this is an updated version of the "Funeral Curses" compilation. The really great part here is that it is finally released on CD. Much of this material has never been released on this format before. "Funeral Curses" was a cassette only release after all. This release goes beyond the "Funeral Curses" material and puts all the splits and vinyl released after that compilation on this one. The other boon we get with this release is that it has all been remastered. So, now we don't have much in the way of production differences when it comes to the material released on the Merrimack/Sargeist split and "Lair of Necromancy". This is definitely an essential release if you've missed out on all the prior material not featured on full-lengths. The only split material not on here is the split with "Horned Almighty", but that is probably because it is readily available. The two tracks on here that I hadn't heard before is "Black Unholy Happiness", because that was featured on a compilation I never purchased and "The Covenant Rite", which was featured as a bonus track on the "Disciple of the Heinous Path" LP edition. Both new tracks are quite excellent, of course this is when Sargeist was basically in stride for how to write compelling and good Black Metal, so I am not surprised. "The Covenant Rite" probably could have worked well on "Disciple of the Heinous Path" and I'm not too sure why it was never included. Either way... this release is absolutely worth getting, even if you had all the vinyl and splits from before this.
Sargeist - Lair of Necromancy
Hospital Productions, 2011
Genre: Black Metal
1. Nightmares and Necromancy
2. The Moon Growing Colder
It seems that Sargeist is wasting no time in getting back to their release schedule of before. The year after "Let the Devil In" we have two new songs from Sargeist. Now, I don't know if these tracks were rejects from the "Let the Devil In" recording sessions, and given the way these sound, I wouldn't be surprised if they were. I'm sure this 7" is limited, but nothing is mentioned anywhere on this released.
I can understand why these tracks would not have been recorded on "Let the Devil In", if that is where they are from, they're entirely too fast and hard hitting compared to the rest of the material on that album. They melodies are also sort of different in feel. They are sort of reminiscent of the soaring epic nature found on the Behexen side of the Behexen/Horna split. There's also some rhythm sections on "Nightmares and Necromancy" that are extremely upbeat and that would have really ruined the dark atmosphere being generated on "Let the Devil In. Even though this may not really be the usual style for Sargeist, I did like the songs. I think "Moon Growing Colder" was a bit better than "Nightmares and Necromancy" though. I doubt these tracks are indicative of a future Sargeist style, instead I would suspect they are a sign that Sargeist is being a lot more strict about what appears on a full-length release.
Sargeist / Drowning the Light Split
Moribund Records, 2010
Genre: Black Metal
Sargeist:
1. Crimson Wine Drowning the Light:
2. As the Blood Flows on...
Side Drowning the Light: ...coming eventually...
Side Sargeist:
I believe this split was supposed to be released prior to "Let the Devil In", but most of the dates I find say it actually came out in 2011. Even so, the date listed on the jacket is 2010 and the catalog number is before the catalog number on "Let the Devil In". Either way, this split comes as a 7" vinyl and is limited to 500 copies, but is not hand-numbered.
This material seems to definitely be considered between "The Dark Embrace" and "Let the Devil In". The material was recorded back in 2008, shortly after "The Dark Embrace's" release. So, in that context this material isn't quite on the same level as "Let the Devil In". Instead it is more like that earlier transitional state that we found "The Dark Embrace" sitting in. They are fleshing out their ideas in a much more solid fashion, but "Crimson Wine" doesn't have the same level of enthralling writing we saw with "Let the Devil In". Still, if you're a die-hard Sargeist follower, then this is certainly worth getting. "Crimson Wine" is hardly a bad song and it is very good for "The Dark Embrace" time frame.
Sargeist - Let the Devil In
Moribund Records, 2010
Genre: Black Metal
1. Empire of Suffering
2. A Spell to Awaken the Temple
3. From the Black Coffin Lair
4. Burning Voice of Adoration
5. Nocturnal Revelation
6. Discovering the Enshrouded Eye
7. Let the Devil In
8. Sanguine Rituals
9. Twilight Breath of Satan
10. As Darkness Tears the World Apart
It's always exhilarating to see a band you follow eventually create an album that is clearly reaching the pinnacle of their existence. I don't want to mean that everything will be downhill from here, but it certainly sets an extremely high bar in the bands direction. If they can keep this level of quality for future releases, we will be very fortunate listeners, but for some reason the first appearance of real artistic strength always remains special to me, no matter what band I listen to.
From the very first note struck we know we have something special on our hands. Forget prior Sargeist releases that had riffs that didn't ensnare you in the moment, "Let the Devil In" has absolutely no waste. Every note struck is magical and brings you into a world of dark melancholy. It truly is a beautiful release in the grand scheme of things. Listen to how well crafted "From the Black Coffin Lair" is, its, honestly, one of the finest Black Metal songs ever composed. Even the catchy chorus of "Let the Devil In" works very well with their style, and this is something I would not have thought would work with their sound. Torog's vocal work feels a lot more thought out this time around. His vocals mesh with the riffing a lot more seamlessly this time, really setting this album as a full package that was very well cared for in composition. This release is very hard to describe beyond the normal description of what I've said about Sargeist. The core essence of their writing hasn't changed, what has changed is the way they've crafted and arranged things. Every element is perfectly tempered seeking a certain level of quality, that, maybe, they'd never reached for before.
Few albums in 2010 could top this release and this is an album I return to again and again. "Let the Devil In" just has this timeless quality to it, where you know it will be an incredible album for years and years. It will be impressive if Sargeist can build something beyond this exquisite crafting, but it will be tough to top. The collection of songs on here reaches such a high mark, that I don't see it being done for quite a while at last. They have certainly come a long way since the early days of the project. People who complain about modern Black Metal are obviously not listening to this band or album.
Sargeist - The Dark Embrace
Moribund Records, 2008
Genre: Black Metal
1. The Dark Embrace
2. The Crown of Burning Stars
This is shocking news. In 2007 Sargeist didn't release any material!! I know, I feel speechless. There wasn't some grand full-length waiting in the winds, unfortunately, instead they've returned with a two track EP. This 7" vinyl is limited to 1,000 copies, but it is not hand-numbered on the jacket.
I think this is some more of the more newly composed material. Sargeist certainly still have that spark that was lit afire during the "Disciples of the Heinous Path" recording, but I feel that the songs on "The Dark Embrace" are actually more well crafted... if that's possible. Prior to this there were always some lulls in Sargeist's material that sort of droned on, or were overshadowed by the really stand-out riffs... on here, though, the material is meshed in a much more cohesive fashion. This is only serving to make me even more excited for another full-length from Sargeist. I feel they're really starting to harness their power even more than before. So, here's hoping that "The Dark Embrace" is a sign of things to come.
Sargeist / Bahimiron Split
Obscure Abhorrence Productions, 2006
Genre: Black Metal
Sargeist:
1. Dead Ravens Memory Bahimiron
2. The Raping of Flesh
Side Bahimiron: ...coming eventually...
Side Sargeist:
Keeping up with Sargeist's demanding release schedule 2006 brings us this 7" vinyl split with Bahimiron. Its limited to 1,000 copies, though a limitation is not referenced on the actual release. It's a gatefold styled packaging, which is quite nice.
"Dead Ravens Memory" sounds like it could have come right off the "Disciples of the Heinous Path" album. The core riffing has this catchy feel to it that really draws the listener in, but it really maintains that melancholic aspect that makes their style so intoxicating. It doesn't say when this track was composed, so it does make me wonder if this is a more modern song. If it is, it doesn't seem they have lost the direction since 2001's writing at all. There are some riffs on here that aren't as stand-out, but that is because, I think, they are overshadowed by the really spectacular elements. I still look forward to what Sargeist has in store for us next!
Sargeist - Disciple of the Heinous Path
Moribund Records, 2005
Genre: Black Metal
1. Black Treasures of Melancholy
2. Remains of an Unholy Past
3. Cursed Blaze of Rituals
4. Disciple of the Heinous Path
5. Heretic Iron Will
6. Echoes from a Morbid Night
I don't know what happened with Behexen, Horna, and Sargeist, but all the albums released around the 2005 time are some of the best material from the projects to date! "Disciple of the Heinous Path" is really where Sargeist started to hammer home the style they were going after. "Satanic Black Devotion" was just the beginning on that road and with the new album they've really upped the ante and solidified their writing style.
Despite this material sounding so good and fresh, the liner notes say this was written back in 2001. It kind of makes me wonder if they've just written all this material and are sitting on all this amazing work. Listen to that opening guitar line on "Remains of an Unholy Past". It is one of the finest guitar lines around and just sounds amazing. This whole album has a sort of melancholic element, that is just doused in sheer evil which results in an album that has a rather epic quality to it. "Cursed Blaze of Rituals" is a slow plodding song that bears elements of Bathory's "Equimanthorn" at times, however, Sargeist's approach is markedly much darker. "Echoes from a Morbid Night" is an incredible closer to this album and it has some of the finest riffing ever featured. Sargeist has really hit a high point with this release!
Given the time the material was composed, its hard to say "I like this direction Sargeist" is heading in... since it seems they went in this direction years ago. It does make me wonder what their future holds at this point. This is an excellent album and if you've enjoyed "Satanic Black Devotion", you will simply love this release. For me, this is really where their career starts to take-off and now I listen with rapt attention to whatever they release.
Sargeist - Funeral Curses
Adversary Productions, 2005
Genre: Black Metal
1. The Rebirth of a Cursed Existence
2. Sinister Glow of the Funeral Torches
3. Reaping with Curses & Plague
4. Cursed Be the Flesh I have Spared
5. Vorax Obscurum
6. Wraith Messiah
This is a really interesting compilation, especially if you are somewhat oblivious to a band's involvement in compilations like I am. The only limitation I've seen associated with this tape is 300 copies, I do not know if that is true or not. No limitation is listed anywhere on the release, but I am sure it is limited to something. This release is well done and features a pro-printed booklet with liner notes/cover on one side and lyrics on the other. The cassette itself is also pro-printed.
I like the way they've split up the tracks on this release. The first side is material recorded in 2002. The opening track is taken from a Woodcut Records compilation and is a totally new track. It definitely serves as a decent transition track between "Tyranny Returns" and the Merrimack split. The second is from another compilation and is clearly a re-recorded of "Sinister Glow of a the Funeral Torches", which was originally featured on the "Tyranny Returns" demo. The recording quality on this is a huge step-up from the original demo material. However, I'm still not sure it was enough for me to fall in love with the writing. Next we have the track from the Merrimack split, which is reviewed below.
The second side features material recorded in 2003. Here we start with a song that was released only on the "Satanic Black Devotion" vinyl edition. I can definitely see why this track was not included on the full-length. It really doesn't fit into the atmosphere or style being developed. Its a much more raw and vicious style of Black Metal and it relies more on catchy rhythms than melody to convey the hateful attitude. The next track, "Vorax Obscurum" was featured on the legendary "Tormenting Legends" compilation. This actually fits with the bonus track from "Satanic Black Devotion" pretty well. Since Sargeist keep sort of returning to that raw crunching style of Black Metal, it makes me wonder if they will eventually just fall into that for an album. Finally, we have the song that was featured on the split with Temple of Baal, reviewed below.
This is a great tape compilation. I actually had no idea that Sargeist was putting out original or re-recorded material to the compilation community. So, its really great to see all this material I missed out on brought under a single release. I really don't have much of an interest in owning all these original compilations, so this is definitely necessary for my Sargeist discography.
Sargeist / Funeral Elegy Split
Paleur Mortelle Productions, 2004
Genre: Black Metal
Sargeist:
1. An Oath Sworn for the Holocaust
2. Hungering Thirst
3. Hateful Spirit
4. Lunar Curse Funeral Elegy:
5. Dropped on Inferna
6. Black Desire
7. Baal
8. Dew of Blood
9. A Strife... a Victory (Kristallnacht Cover)
Side Funeral Elegy: ...coming eventually...
Side Sargeist:
Sargeist have, yet, another split released in 2004! I fear they may be heading in the Horna direction after all. This release only exists on cassette. It comes with a xeroxed cover and dubbed tape. Its fairly sought after because it is limited to 200 hand-numbered copies and I own #91.
This split doesn't contain newly recorded material from Sargeist, instead this is old previously unreleased material. It's sort of strange to listen to in that regard. It says the material was recorded in 2000, so this is prior to the second demo and after their first demo. I wonder if this was meant to be the second demo... but instead they re-recorded material from the first instead. Its sort of interesting because the raw material on here sounds a lot more similar to what Sargeist would produce on the split with Merrimack than what they did with "Tyranny Returns". I actually think it has better production quality too. The Sargeist side finishes off with "Lunar Curse" which is apparently a song written in 1998. I do wonder if this is one of the earliest Sargeist songs written. Naturally this song is a very primitive song and has a far more intense hateful streak to it. It makes me wonder what the first Sargeist demo really sounded like, because I may have enjoyed this more than "Tyranny Returns" in some respects. Granted it is nothing original, but it doesn't sound bad at all. I'm, ultimately, glad this material finally got to see the light of day in some form or another.
Sargeist / Horned Almighty Split
Moribund Records, 2004
Genre: Black Metal
Sargeist:
1. In Ruin & Despair
2. Questing the Blessing of Evil
3. Profane Bleeding Call
4. At the Altar of the Beast Horned Almighty:
5. Skullsplitting Manifest
6. Degradation Song
7. In Torture We Trust
8. To the Lords Our Lives
Side Horned Almighty: ...coming eventually...
Side Sargeist:
In the same year as the split with Temple of Baal, Sargeist brought another split into existence. This time with Horned Almighty. It seems this year is taking the route of splits rather than working on a new full-length. This time the split is pressed on CD and vinyl. The production on these tracks feels a lot more raw than the prior releases, which is interesting and actually doesn't really mar the music at all. I wish I could say every track on here was up to the same quality levels of the prior two releases, but there are songs on here that were just okay. The album starts strong with the song "In Ruin & Despair", which starts with an engaging melody for a while before the vocals ever kick in. This was great, because it sort of acted as an intro to their side, without actually making a separate track. It also allowed them to build into that riff, rather than just leaving it as an intro piece like too many bands do. The following track isn't nearly as interesting to me. "Questing the Blessing of Evil" is just a slow plodding track that, unfortunately, fell more on the boring side versus the droning and atmospheric. The third track falls more in the realms of Horna than Sargeist's usual style, so I'm not sure why that wasn't made into a Horna song. It has moments of Sargeist, but feels more Horna overall. This theme sort of keeps up with the final track too. So, in the end, we get a great Sargeist song, a not so interesting song, and two mostly Horna styled tracks.
Temple of Baal / Sargeist Split
Grievantee, 2004
Genre: Black Metal
Temple of Baal:
1. Bitter Days Sargeist:
2. Wraith Messiah
It seems Sargeist might be afflicted with the same disease Horna is. Writing more material than you know what to do with then releasing more splits than is possible to collect. Okay, Sargeist aren't that bad with these types of releases. Here Sargeist turns to France once again to find a bland to split with and they really have chosen to work with two stellar French projects already. Hopefully this is a sign of splits to come! This split is a vinyl 7" limited to 500 copies, or so some sources say. The limitation actually isn't listed anywhere on the release. There's not much beyond the 7" with this release. Lyrics are printed on the back of the sleeve, but there really aren't any liner notes either.
Sargeist bring us one new track and its clearly in the vein of "Satanic Black Devotion". Naturally, if you enjoyed that album, I can't imagine why you wouldn't enjoy this song. Sargeist show they are capable of writing on the lengthier side with this song being nearly seven minutes in length. Longer track times seems to work pretty well with the Sargeist style and it really allows us to fall into their melancholic yet hateful styles. Definitely a solid track worth having for the Sargeist fanatic.
Sargeist - Satanic Black Devotion
Moribund Records, 2003
Genre: Black Metal
1. Preludium
2. Satanic Black Devotion
3. Obire Pestis
4. Frowning, Existing
5. Glorification
6. Panzergod
7. Black Fucking Murder
8. Sargeist
9. Returning to Misery & Comfort
After hearing the split with Merrimack I was pretty excited to hear what Sargeist had in store for us next. What we get is an incredible new full-length. The prior split was, indeed, indicative of the direction Sargeist would be taking on this future release. However, this is so much more than just being like that original song.
It also seems Sargeist have gone through some serious line-up changes. Shatraug no longer bothers to hide his identity in the line-up, and here we see two new members round out the group. He looks to the already known finnish band Behexen to help with the missing musicians. This is the blend that brings Sargeist to perfection. Here I really think Sargeist blends the work of Horna and Behexen together, and while some of my readers may wonder if that's overly redundant, it really isn't. It brings us a really different and really interesting atmosphere. It really has that oppressive dark atmosphere of Behexen and the hateful melodies so sought after in the Horna style. The Black Metal atmosphere that gets constructed is unlike anything the two bands are striving for. Bringing in Hoath Torog on vocals was a really smart move and he really rounds out Sargeist's sound with his incredible rasps.
"Satanic Black Devotion" is a little odd in some respects, because for the most part it is this wonderful experience between melody and darkness, but with the song "Glorification" things get a little heavier. This keeps up through "Panzergod" and reminds me of the more grinding Gorgoroth style Horna tracks that Shatraug has produced over the years. After this the album returns to the style we've come to expect on this album, hitting really high points with tracks like "Sargeist" and the catchy "Black Fucking Murder".
This is really a stellar album. I truly hope Sargeist see fit to produce this style to its fullest. Its a very different blend of Black Metal despite the clear influences being brought together. Naturally, if you're already a huge fan of Behexen or Horna, then Sargeist is a band you simply must listen to.
Merrimack / Sargeist Split
Moribund Records, 2002
Genre: Black Metal
Merrimack:
1. Guardians of Your Slavery Sargeist:
2. Reaping with Curses and Plague
Side Merrimack: ...coming eventually...
Side Sargeist:
It seems the first demo was enough to get the Sargeist project noticed by Moribund Records, who has agreed to released this 7" vinyl split. It's limited to 1,000 hand-numbered copies and I own #430. Its kind of incredible the changes that have undergone the Sargeist writing style. It seems an infusion of melody has really crept into their style a lot. Not to mention, I feel like they have also leaned in the direction of having a Horna edge in their sound, so maybe trying to sound entirely different from Horna wasn't working from them. Be that as it may "Reaping with Curses and Plague" is a very different Sargeist track and its wonderfully sinister with those hateful melodies being performed. This is really a stand-out transition for Sargeist and if they're going to head in this direction, Sargeist is going to be one hell of a strong Black Metal band in the future. We'll see what the future brings eventually...
Sargeist - Tyranny Returns
Warmoon Records, 2001
Genre: Black Metal
1. Preludium: Golden Seed of Father-Sun
2. Anti-Human Black Metal Wrath
3. Night of Sacred Wisdom
4. Dark Fortress
5. Scion of Glory & Pride
6. Interludium
7. The Impaler Prince
8. Sinister Glow of the Funeral Torches
9. Sworn by the White Wolves Blood
10. Iron, Blood & Blasphemy
11. Postludium: Silver Womb of Mother-Moon
"Tyranny Returns" is actually Sargeist's second demo and I have completely given up on finding their two dating back to 1999. Instead, the version pictured above is the re-release of the demo by Moribund Records in 2005. The original cassette was released by Shatraug's own label and limited to 222 hand-numbered copies. Shatraug isn't even named on the original demo tape, he goes by the name Lord Belethor Grimstein. On the re-release he is the only band member pictured and I have no idea who the other members were, but there seems to have been some falling out since the re-release states "No thanks to ex-members of those times, rot in heaven..." One of the reasons Sargeist started getting rather popular is because it was touted as a side-project involving members from the more well known Horna. It seems back in Sargeist's early inception perhaps they wanted that connection to be more hidden.
Despite the Horna connection "Tyranny Returns" sounds fairly different from what you would expect to hear from Horna in 2001. Sargeist seems to be more raging and primitive Black Metal. There are times when the Horna style shows up a little bit like in "Scion of Glory and Pride", but I think its fairly minimal overall for this demo. "Tyranny Returns" is probably a further evolution in the growth of the project and I can only imagine what the prior demo sounded like. I think they are still going through a bit of growing pains in the attempt to go beyond the Black Metal that has already been created. Some songs just don't fit with the overall demo at all like "Night of Sacred Wisdom", which sounds like some early 90's Black Metal with the old clean vocal style... I can't think of a project that comes to mind at the moment. Certainly not on the level of Ulver or anything, but more like Isengard maybe. Then later "Sinister Glow of the Funeral Torches" touches on a new take of the Funeral Dirge... which has been done too many times already. "Iron, Blood & Blasphemy" seems to herald back to the early days of Bathory and really stands out as disjoint from the rest of the songs. I feel as the band tried to write very differently from Horna, they have fallen back to the roots of the genre trying a large amount of different methods whether they seem connected or not.
I think if you like the every old style of Black Metal in the early 90's with the raw and harsh production, you may find this a more compelling release. This release didn't really stand out to me too much in the end. I feel like the project still needs to undergo a lot more evolution, but this is certainly worth hearing for the Sargeist collector. Its always worth hearing a bands origins for sure.
While I enjoy a lot of Horna's material, I really think this is one of the bands where I never actually own all of their material. Despite their massive discography, I did manage to get a hold of their original demo. This was limited to 150 copies and has a small copied cover with a lyrics sheet insert, which is separate from the packaging. I'm actually not completely sure if I have the real demo since the tape I have has two extra songs on it. These two songs I've managed to identify as rehearsal tracks from 1994.
You can be certain this is an extremely raw demo recording. Being a Black Metal band at this early stage means their music is very primitive. I think at this time in history Finland was mostly looking at what Norway and Sweden were producing and drawing a lot of influence from there, except for Beherit, of course. Horna definitely seem to be drawing influence from the Norwegian scene like early Emperor recordings or even some early Swedish groups like Marduk or Dark Funeral when those bands were still relatively unknown. It really isn't until a little later that Finland really had their own signature sound to me. This is one of the things I love about Black Metal and why I enjoy listening to some really early material, you can really tell what region influenced bands!
It is interesting to listen to the rehearsal tracks because they do have a very different feel. The two tracks from 1994 have a much worse recording quality, as expected, but the pace of the songs is a bit slower. "Poltettu" is a lot faster than "Yksin Ikuinen", but it has this clean section that is really different compared to the rest of the demo tracks. The rehearsal tracks certainly have some really great ideas, but I can see why though wouldn't have fit on the more vicious sounding demo. Although, the song "Varjoissa" is quite good and that is a little slower than the other songs.
Another interesting thing is that the names of the musicians listed on the demo have changed over time. Skald is now known as Shatraug and Hyarn became Mordehel. I'm sure why their names changed, but when I first opened up the booklet it made me wonder if there were no original Horna members left. After some research I was happy to see that Shatraug was involved, since I was under the impression he formed the band in the first place!
Anyway, this is a wonderful piece of history. Horna have yet to become a major force in Black Metal, but it is great to hear what was coming out of a fledgling Finnish scene at this time. You can certainly hear the ideas brewing amidst the harsh recording and tortured vocals.
