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Azaghal - Omega review



Reviewer:
8.0

24 users:
7.71
Band: Azaghal
Album: Omega
Release date: March 2008


01. Tämän Maailman Prinssi
02. Pirun Verta
03. Quetzalcoatl
04. Kuolonkäärme
05. Vihani Raivoavina Valtamerinä
06. Maailman Viimeinen Yö
07. Kuolemankultti
08. Tuhkaan Kirjoitettu
09. Kaikkinäkevän Silmän Alla

Most bands get what they deserve at some point in their history, exceptions reserved. Take for example the Finnish Azaghal. Ravaging the pagan vastlands since the demonic year of 1995, terrorizing mankind with their, and I quote, "Black Terror Metal Hell". And finally their energy is rewarded. A deal with Moribund Cult Records in their pockets should help them a lot further in their quest to destroy Christianity.

Much like many of their Finnish collegues, they do not seem to care about originality at all. Azaghal stands firmly rooted in the Second Wave and owe especially Immortal a thing or two. Without them, they obviously would not exist. To describe this album in a couple of words: imagine "At The Heart Of Winter", but more aggressive, a tad faster and with sparse use of keys and clean vocals. For those who need a more detailed description: their Black Metal is without any frills, and is a constant assault of relentless thrashing riffs, rotten vocals and destroying blast-beats. No mercy!

Compared to their back catalogue, they have booked great progress with "Omega". Moribund's budget must have been much bigger than the earlier budgets they've worked with, as this record's production really slays. All the instruments are balanced out perfectly, and the overall sound is very strong. Yet it never sounds over-produced like Dimmu Borgir or anything of the sort. Many Black Metal fans seem to dread the word 'production', but there are many ways of producing an album. In this case, through its strong production, the album has balls. Big, black and spikey balls.

They are pushing it, with their satanic terror attitude, but manage to not go totally over the top and maintain credibility. My main problem with most of the 'raw' Black Metal hordes is that they make complete fools out of themselves, either through laughable artwork/lyrics/poses or through utterly uninspired, completely lacking music. Thankfully this does not apply to Azaghal, and if you're looking for a good, destructive ensemble you may rest your search now.


Rating breakdown
Performance: 8
Songwriting: 8
Originality: 6
Production: 8





Written on 20.03.2008 by If you're interested in extreme, often emotional and underground music, check out my reviews. I retired from reviewing, but I really used to be into that stuff.


Comments

Comments: 7   Visited by: 107 users
20.03.2008 - 17:25
Damnated
Churchburner
slightly better than their previous stuff, but it's still crap. 6.5 at max. finnish black metal just can't get off the ground tbh.
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Blessed is he that murders Christ in himself and in his fellow men.



Written by TheBigRossowski on 10.02.2009 at 16:01

if my wife and I can't conceive, I want a medical shipment of your sperm so our baby will be just like you.
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20.03.2008 - 20:12
Marcel Hubregtse
Grumpy Old Fuck
Written by Damnated on 20.03.2008 at 17:25

slightly better than their previous stuff, but it's still crap. 6.5 at max. finnish black metal just can't get off the ground tbh.


you say it's till crap and yet you would rate it a 6.5? strange, cause 6.5 doesn't denote crap, average yes, crap no.
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Member of the true crusade against European Flower Metal

Yesterday is dead and gone, tomorrow is out of sight
Dawn Crosby (r.i.p.)
05.04.1963 - 15.12.1996

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20.03.2008 - 20:23
Damnated
Churchburner
Written by Marcel Hubregtse on 20.03.2008 at 20:12

Written by Damnated on 20.03.2008 at 17:25

slightly better than their previous stuff, but it's still crap. 6.5 at max. finnish black metal just can't get off the ground tbh.


you say it's till crap and yet you would rate it a 6.5? strange, cause 6.5 doesn't denote crap, average yes, crap no.

6.5 if i make an effort. call it average crap then.
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Blessed is he that murders Christ in himself and in his fellow men.



Written by TheBigRossowski on 10.02.2009 at 16:01

if my wife and I can't conceive, I want a medical shipment of your sperm so our baby will be just like you.
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20.03.2008 - 20:47
Rating: 8
Lucas
Mr. Noise
It's not crap though.
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SLUDGE. DOOM. DEATH. Wait, what?

"The reason I'm running for president is because I can't be Bruce Springsteen." - Barack Obama
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20.03.2008 - 21:14
jupitreas
hi-fi / lo-life
Someone recommended this album to me and I found it to be quite enjoyable, although a little tedious in the long run. I think the rating is spot on, since this is still a great album in small doses.
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21.03.2008 - 01:17
Southern Wind
Account deleted
Written by jupitreas on 20.03.2008 at 21:14

Someone recommended this album to me and I found it to be quite enjoyable, although a little tedious in the long run. I think the rating is spot on, since this is still a great album in small doses.


Yeah but in this case the "long run" means no more than 3 songs. I can't stand bands that repeat identical albums again and again, I was impressed by Azaghal some time ago, but now the bore me to death.

To Damnated: if you want to hear an outstanding new Finnish band, check Arsonist Lodge, if you hadn't already.
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19.10.2008 - 11:20
Uirapuru
Liver Failure
Still with the crazy ass songs, its not better than previous Lucerin Valo and Helvetin Yhdeksän Piiriä, but still got some very good songs, powerful and and with a touching atmosphere, like Pirun Verta and Vihani Raivoavina Valtamerinä. Good enough, 7,8 to me.
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member of the true crusade against old school heavy metal, early 80s thrash, NWOBHM, traditional doom, first and second wave black metal, old school death metal, US power metal, 70s prog rock and atmospheric doomsludgestoner. o/
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