Amen Corner - Darken in Quir Haresete
This is an excellent combination of mostly Black and Death Metal, with more than a little Doomy atmosphere mixed in. Even the faster parts are oppressive and sorrowful. The songwriting, the playing, the screaming, even the production: it’s all virtually flawless, and an awesome example of how to properly take different styles and sounds, and make them into your own. Not only has Amen Corner done exactly that, but they have also crafted songs that are all unique and very memorable, while not losing any intensity. There is damn little holding this back from perfection, and I may well look back and wish I’d given this amazing EP a ten.
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Altar - In the Name of the Father
These guys just have not been able to recapture the raw energy they unleashed with their classic debut, Youth Against Christ. 1998’s Provoke was a step in the right direction, but almost restrained by its super-polished production, and of course, the occasional Nu-Metal crossover riff. In the Name… is a step backwards into more drudgery. Much heavier and more brutal than its predecessor, but nowhere near memorable. Better luck next time.
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Alghazanth - Thy Aeons Envenomed Sanity
Alghazanth is a Finnish horde that plays atmospheric Black Metal and really reminds me of no one particular band. They are clearly influenced by Emperor, Cradle of Filth and some of the more melodic Black Metal bands but no one of them comes out as a clear, dominating influence. The music is engaging and contains enough melody to make listening easier. The pervading feeling on this album is one of melancholy or sadness. Even when the band goes balls to the wall and starts blasting, this never really gets aggressive or brutal. They have the same feeling no matter if they play slow or fast. Maybe it’s because the keyboards are so dominant. The guitars aren’t buried but they are clearly taking a backseat to the keys. The only other gripe I had was the band’s horrible English but since they come from a non-English speaking country, I can’t fault them for that. My Finnish is a hell of a lot worse than their English. Had they come from the USA, that would have cost them badly. This is a band to look out for and I expect good things from Alghazanth in the future.
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Al Sirat - Signa Tempori
This particular combination of Thrash and Death elements at times seems like (oddly enough) the more aggressive elements of Death mixed with the mellowest moments of Testament. That’s a crazy way to put things together, but if nothing else it’s given Al Sirat an individual sound to go with their generally memorable, energetic songs. As an added bonus, the last track on here is a pretty standard CD-ROM video.
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Agony Lords - Nihilist Passion
“Dark Metal, Dark Metal! Lay down y…” Wait a minute, this really isn’t all that “Metal.” Okay, no problem: “Dark Rock, Dark Ro…” Hmm, I guess it’s not really all that “Dark,” either. Uhh, “Semi-Hard Twilight Rock”? Okay, the live tracks (all nine of ‘em) are heavier and darker than the new studio stuff, but not radically. This isn’t bad at all for what it is, but I’m just really not too interested.
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Agent Steel - Omega Conspiracy
Even though I don’t like the whiny vocals, this Retro-Thrash is energetic enough to almost make me forget them. Almost.
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Agathodaimon - Higher Art of Rebellion
German Black Metal. Imagine destroying all Black Metal stereotypes and cliches then building from the ground up anew, with artistic vision, a Black style so fresh and unique that it approaches fantastic greatness with the first track! But unfortunately this sways to periods of mediocrity and weakness. With Lyrics in old Romanian and English it makes an interesting listen.
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Agalloch - Pale Folklore
Wind. Oh man, they’re starting out this album with the sound of wind, and some simple guitar repetition. Eventually, that ends, and the real music starts, which is a fuck of a lot better. Sort of Thrashy, but with acoustic guitars, and almost Progressive at times, with whispered vocals. It’s mostly pretty mellow, but not bad at all, and can be quite saddening at times.
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Aeternus - Shadows of Old
Hailing from Norway, Aeternus has risen above the masses to create music which transcends the norm. They play a style of music which is very difficult to classify. Their Black Metal roots are evident, but this band really goes beyond the trappings of traditional Black Metal. One of the differences is the vocal delivery of singer Ares, which is a solid Death Metal roar. Another difference of note is the way the atmosphere is created. Where many Black Metal bands would use keyboards to create atmosphere, Aeternus opts for acoustic guitar rhythms instead. Also, the drumming is not buried in the production. It is absolutely solid and mixed perfectly.
Shadows of Old, the fourth release by Aeternus, is nothing short of brilliant. Blending atmosphere with brutality, Aeternus paints a landscape of blood-freezing horror. Speeding drums and raging guitars suddenly give way to beautifully crafted acoustic passages. Yet the music has such a natural flow it becomes enthralling.
Their three previous releases: Dark Sorcery, Beyond the Wandering Moon, and …and So the Night Became, are all testimony to the seemingly endless talent which lies within Aeternus. Shadows of Old has all of the amazing elements of its predecessors, but this release has a stronger dose of Death Metal aggression. This may be a result of Aeternus having toured with Deicide and Cannibal Corpse prior to the recording of Shadows of Old. This release has firmly established Aeternus among the elite. Their sound is truly original. Of course, if you ask me, Aeternus have been in a class by themselves since the beginning! “Drink the blood, devour the heart / The glory of death shall flow through your veins / With strength were you born / With strength shall you rise.” Sounds good to me!
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