Blut Aus Nord
Memoria Vetusta I: Fathers of the Icy Age
[Impure Creations]


The second album from one of the most undeservingly obscure black metal bands. Blut Aus Nord from France have one of the most original sounds in black metal. It is only two members (one plays six string bass the other does everything else and wrote all the songs). Well the music here is mostly very aggressive and raw, it is also laced with chanting and dark sounding synth.

The first track "Slaughterday (The Heathen Blood of Ours)" is the best example of the band's sound. Its starts with an ominous keyboard part (almost doom metal sounding) and abruptly cuts into an grinding marching riff. Chanting also comes in around this time. The vocals remind me of "Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk" era Emperor. The song is quite raw until a melodic guitar solo and singing part come in. No band I have ever heard have been able to capture this perfect blend of grimness and morose romanticism in their music.

(9.5/10)


© 2000 raagoonshinnaah