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Slagmaur - Von Rov Shelter review



Reviewer:
7.5

14 users:
7.07
Band: Slagmaur
Album: Von Rov Shelter
Release date: September 2009


01. _
02. Drako Gigant
03. Fantom Eks Speriment
04. Lange Knivers Natt
05. Nattens Sorte Ord
06. Klokker Tramp
07. Ramaskrik

The name 'Slagmaur' has crossed my path before, but I must admit I never got to the point of checking out any music. The release of their new album Von Rov Shelter on Osmose Productions brought change to this, though, and I'm glad it did. They're pretty good, actually...

Von Rov Shelter's riffs have a gloomy, mechanic and manic sound. These riffs form a wall, a moving wall, slowly yet steadily, exactly in your direction. Fuelled by plodding drums and demonic croaks, it trudges on and on and on. A black mass, darkening the sky, trudging on and on and on and on. Sounds scary? No? But it never rests. And while you can easily stay out of it's reach now, you will tire some day. Perhaps not today, not tomorrow, but perhaps next week... And then. Then. It will crush you. And it will keep trudging on and on and on and on. While the riffs are not exactly riveting nor intricate nor emotional, it is their consistent mechanic blind madness that gives them their charm.

Another thing they like to do is to add weird small intermezzo's in their music, however they're a bit hit and miss. Sometimes they're just weird vocal sounds and 'incantations' (end of 'Lange Knivers Natt'), sometimes they're gloomy and spooky parts that give you a break from fleeing from the black mass of death ('Nattens Sorte Ord' in its entirety). But not for long, as 'Klokker Tramp' quickly resumes the albums heinousity with fresh menace. Add a healthy dose of theatrics to this track and the closer and you've got yourself a moderately spectacular second half.

Slagmaur is a cool band. I like what they stand for, which is at times pretty weird, but always focused Black metal with an evil vibe. They are not, however, completely convincing in their execution. You will need a bit of an imagination, otherwise the black mass of death simply becomes noise pollution from worn out earplugs. But they deserve credit for doing what they do as it is far from bad and it seems to be exactly what they wanted to do. Every Black metaller with a dark imagination ought to give this a try.


Rating breakdown
Performance: 8
Songwriting: 8
Originality: 6
Production: 7





Written on 29.09.2009 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: 89 users
30.09.2009 - 06:58
FOOCK Nam

Damn, Dude the COVER is totally Extremely Sexy. I really like this kind of Cover, Parody Sarcastic-Attack to all divine Weak normal holy pictures about our friend J.C for the Great Wall name Religion. I am very Eager to hang this Cover on my house wall to behold and Worship my own house Great WALL in its thy name my religion where I am ONLY the OWNER of my House Where I am OWN My Great WALL. Well, in short and conclusion, it is very beautiful Cover .

Long time no see your Review, your vocabulary is Better, more Fabulous.
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30.09.2009 - 08:02
Dangerboner
Lactation Cnslt
All I've heard is Skrekk Lich Kunstler, but I really want to check this out. Judging by your review, this album doesn't sound like it'll be much different.
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30.09.2009 - 12:42
silenius

Great falling-asleep music^^
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30.09.2009 - 17:04
Uirapuru
Liver Failure
Gonna listen just because of the nice cover art... remember kids, always judge the book for its cover.
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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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30.09.2009 - 17:31
Ellrohir
Heaven Knight
The cover is really great
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My rest seems now calm and deep
Finally I got my dead man sleep


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30.09.2009 - 21:27
X-Ray Rod
Skandino
I listened to a couple of songs from the previous albums and demos and it seems to be some good stuff. With a nice touch of neoclasical and ambient.

I might buy this...
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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29
Like you could kiss my ass
Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
Rod, let me love you.
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02.10.2009 - 03:26
Uirapuru
Liver Failure
Quote:
Sounds scary? No? But it never rests.


Best part of the review
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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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