Ad maiorem... is the third CD of this CULT underground band (led by Orlok) from the Netherlands. In my sense, this one is the best. The main influence on this recording is BURZUM (the voice and the gloomy atmosphere are typical of the ones on VV's releases) and this is certainly all, as I haven't heard many band playing this kind of BM anywhere else... Maybe BATHORY could also be quoted, but this is more on a spiritual point of view (their name, COUNTESS (BATHORY), and the font they use fot their logo is the same as the one on BATHORY's logo...)

Don't expect typical violent and hyper speed black metal in COUNTESS' songs, their pace is very slow but they are intense though... Some tracks as "The priest must die" are so melancholic yet hateful at the same time that you have to respect this band for being so good in playing with the feelings of the listener. And "Thus spoke the master" is an anthem to Satan's glory sung as if it was a love song ! This is the mark of the bands that don't cheat... So if you don't have this CD yet, try everything you can to get it, it deserves its cult status and COUNTESS appears as a typical UG band for releasing such a masterpiece and staying in the darkness of the underground scene since 1992... All Hails !

9 / 10

© 2003 lord pesten