Dodheimsgard
Monumental Possession
[Malicious]
NOTE: This CD arrived in the same lot as the new Aura Noir CD...
(remember this fact throughout my review).
To anyone who'd heard Dodheimsgard's debut CD, "Kronet Til Konge", you'd know the band was more than the average side project. Witness Aldrahn's tortured, morose vocals, that fabled satanic harmony on the guitars, Fenriz' rockstar bass playing, and the fabulous garden sprinkler drumming. It really did set this band apart from the rest of the Horde (tm).
How things have changed with "Monumental Possessions". Gone is Aldrahn's desperado vocal fringe, gone are the great guitar sounds, and gone are the surreal bass lines. Instead, Dodheimsgard have released an album of black thrash, which, admittedly was recorded way before the new Aura Noir CD, but really doesn't compete, and that is a shame. Some of the nuclear powered black metal is still there, but the whole disc has that retro-feel.
Take for example "Fluency" which really has nothing in common with anything from the first CD. Nor does the next song, "Angel Death", but that doesn't mean its no-good. It has a rockin' Bay-Area riff, coupled with double kick drumming that literally steamrolls you over. Its probably the best song on the disc.
Another interesting aspect about this album, is the lyrics. Never one for reading the lyrics to most black metal albums (because I know the routine by now), it took someone on IRC to point out some errr..."interesting" pieces of lyricism that adorned the booklet. Take for example, "Utopia Running Scarlet"... one verse during this song goes thus :
"I see my options, and I choose the tunnel, See what my winged crayons have painted"...
There are many more...
"..reborning the slaves nevertheless dispersal of ironstakes to have becomed itself....disinfection!"
A pisstake, quite possibly, but it really does highlight the call for these bands to write in their native tongue...heheh.
The layout and artwork on this CD are truly unique, beautiful even. (His winged crayons must have drawn it), although they did commit true black metal's cardinal sin by foregoing black&white.
All in all, a _bit_ of a disappointment to those who were expecting "KtK pt2", but then again, we should be ashamed for doing that, shouldn't we? (sarcasm). Once again, its more black metal than thrash, but in Dodheimsgard's case, lads, why frig with a winning formula?!?
RATING 8/10
© 1998 brett
To anyone who'd heard Dodheimsgard's debut CD, "Kronet Til Konge", you'd know the band was more than the average side project. Witness Aldrahn's tortured, morose vocals, that fabled satanic harmony on the guitars, Fenriz' rockstar bass playing, and the fabulous garden sprinkler drumming. It really did set this band apart from the rest of the Horde (tm).
How things have changed with "Monumental Possessions". Gone is Aldrahn's desperado vocal fringe, gone are the great guitar sounds, and gone are the surreal bass lines. Instead, Dodheimsgard have released an album of black thrash, which, admittedly was recorded way before the new Aura Noir CD, but really doesn't compete, and that is a shame. Some of the nuclear powered black metal is still there, but the whole disc has that retro-feel.
Take for example "Fluency" which really has nothing in common with anything from the first CD. Nor does the next song, "Angel Death", but that doesn't mean its no-good. It has a rockin' Bay-Area riff, coupled with double kick drumming that literally steamrolls you over. Its probably the best song on the disc.
Another interesting aspect about this album, is the lyrics. Never one for reading the lyrics to most black metal albums (because I know the routine by now), it took someone on IRC to point out some errr..."interesting" pieces of lyricism that adorned the booklet. Take for example, "Utopia Running Scarlet"... one verse during this song goes thus :
"I see my options, and I choose the tunnel, See what my winged crayons have painted"...
There are many more...
"..reborning the slaves nevertheless dispersal of ironstakes to have becomed itself....disinfection!"
A pisstake, quite possibly, but it really does highlight the call for these bands to write in their native tongue...heheh.
The layout and artwork on this CD are truly unique, beautiful even. (His winged crayons must have drawn it), although they did commit true black metal's cardinal sin by foregoing black&white.
All in all, a _bit_ of a disappointment to those who were expecting "KtK pt2", but then again, we should be ashamed for doing that, shouldn't we? (sarcasm). Once again, its more black metal than thrash, but in Dodheimsgard's case, lads, why frig with a winning formula?!?
RATING 8/10
© 1998 brett