This is a rather straightforward Dark Funeral rip-off; and as such, is nothing special. As you can probably predict, the buzzing guitars, screamed vox, and double-bass/blast beats are all present on this album. The vocals themselves have a very gutteral and forced sound; they sound almost like extremely strained Death Metal growls, at some points. As for the bands musicianship, there is not much to say. In fact, there is not much to say about this album at all - it is naught more then your average Black Metal. The production is thin, clear, and *cold*; but that is, I believe, the only thing I can really reccomend regarding this rather mundane work.

I suppose that dyed-in-the-wool Setherial/Dark Funeral fans have no reason *not* to buy this... I even think that they would enjoy it; but then again, I believe that when an album or band blatantly rips-off some other work or stays too safely, too closely, within the borders of a particular genre without offering anything new, we - as the consumers - should have the sense not to support it. Originality is rare enough as it is! People who like fast and cold Black Metal (with rather mundane riffs) and who have no problems buying the same music over and over again might enjoy this... As for the rest, your money is better spent elsewhere!

(here's an interesting observation for you, by the way: every song besides the outro starts on *exactly* the same note!)

Pros: Cold Production
Cons: Somewhat strained and over-reaching vox, you have heard this type of stuff a thousand times before....

The Verdict: While not a really bad release, there are many better bands in the same style (Setherial, for one); and this disc doesn't add anything new... that is to say, it does not innovate at all.

© 2000 sauron anarazel