Blood Red Throne - Blood Red Throne
As a 20-year scene veteran, I’d like to think I’m a Death Metal know-it-all. Sure, I love all types of music. Some of them <gasp!> not even remotely Metal at all. But the Metal of Death is still #1. Tops on a very short list of reasons to live. It spoke —some might even say it growled— to me the loudest as an introverted, ostracized teen, and it still speaks to me the loudest as an introverted, ostracized adult. However, not even the most knowledgeable Death Metal lifers among us can lay claim to truly knowing it all. It just isn’t possible with this elusive, underground-dwelling genre, where the bands outnumber the fans 666:1. Just when I think I’ve heard it all —or more accurately everything worth hearing— a band like Norway’s Blood Red Throne crawls out of the woodwork. Of course I’ve heard of them —seen their name in magazines and catalogs, etc.— but they’ve regrettably snuck under my radar until now, with album #7 and year of existence #15. Listening to this self-titled beast of an album, I’m downright embarrassed that I’ve never given them a chance before. Especially considering the all-star pedigree involved. Not only was this project formed by two touring members of Satyricon circa ‘98 —Dod (guitarist and sole remaining original member) and Tchort (also of Green Carnation, Carpathian Forest, and Emperor fame)— but other past and current members include major players from the likes of Gehenna, In the Woods, Spawn of Possession, Deeds of Flesh, Aeon, and even Enslaved. I’m not gonna jerk your chain, Blood Red Throne isn’t the end-all be-all of Extreme Metal as we know it. You won’t be getting those same chills you got from Scream Bloody Gore or Left Hand Path. But it is a solid, no-bullshit Death Metal LP, and if you haven’t noticed, those are becoming harder and harder to come by these days. Obviously I can’t speak for past efforts, but these 9 tracks exude an undeniable Sinister influence, and that’s a surefire way for any band to worm their way into my cold, black heart. An impressive blend of speed, brutality, groove, technicality, and catchiness without any one thing being overdone. There’s a pit riff for the ages directly after the sample on “Hymn of the Asylum,” while “In Hell I Roam” boasts a tremolo-picked blast furnace that echoes the greats. If there’s one thing I could do without, it’s the occasional high-pitched scream. I realize it’s a Nordic staple, but this one’s well below average and can induce a cringe on an otherwise decent cut. I believe some serious backtracking on my part is in order. No doubt by the time I finish, I’ll have discovered a few more unseen diamonds in the rough. You just can’t win.
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