Open Hell - In Gloria Aeterna Tenebrae
I don’t know if I like this because it sounds like De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas era Mayhem, or because it’s some sick-ass Black Fucking Metal. It’s probably a little of both, because I really loved De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas, and this is some sick-ass Black Fucking Metal. The thing is, this really, really sounds like old Mayhem to the point where you think you have the wrong CD in your player. The singer even sounds like Attila, especially on the first track. If the “new” Mayhem had continued in the same direction as De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas and retained Attila instead of going with Maniac, Wolf’s Lair Abyss would probably sound a lot like this does. The main point deductions here come from the lack of their own identity. When you listen to Open Hell, all you hear is Mayhem. The playing is good, the sound is a bit drum-heavy (but not to the point where you can’t hear the guitars), the atmosphere is dark and oppressive - all of which are net positives. I like the music and I think this band had a good influence. What they need, though, is to find their own musical identity. This is their first actual album (their previous releases were a demo and a rehearsal recording) so they have room to grow and to experiment. If they can come up with some way to differentiate themselves from “clone” status, they could be a serious force in the Black Metal scene.
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