Carpathian Forest
Black Shining Leather
[Avantegarde]


With the popularity of black metal slowly (and strangely) rising, Carpathian Forest provide (for lack of a non-cliched expression) a breath of fresh air. Although the band is in the same vein as Darkthrone, they find a way to be original and outlandish at the same time (even though they appeared on the scene at the same time as Darkthrone, and were black metal BEFORE they were).

They experiment with sexually perverse lyrics and make it work, unlike the atrocious Cradle of Filth. They perform some of the catchiest black metal ever, without losing the "evil" quality that the music needs. The musicianship is superb, with the bass actually audible for a change.

Overall, a brilliant, non-pretentious album that is sure to delight any fan of extreme metal.

Highest Recommendations!!

Standout tracks: The Swordsmen, Sadomasochistic, and The Northern Hemisphere


© 2000 raagoonshinnaah