Still feels like the ghost of Abbath is somewhere in the music. Almost as atmospheric and enjoyable as Sons of Northern Darkness.

People: OmG tHiS aLbUm SuUuUuCkS! nO aBbAtH, nO iMmOrTaL! Then they say that Abbath's new album 'Outstrider' sucks too!

This is literally what every 90s black metal album would have sounded like if those bands had modern technology.

It's not innovative in any sense of the imagination, but it's a solid black metal album, with absolutely no outside influence aside from their original goal of writing some straightforward, consistent, professional sounding black metal. It's like a bunch of washed up black metal musician friends got together at a bar one night discussing the glory days of the genre and eventually left after crushing about 90 beers between them agreeing to form a new project paying homage to that trve kvlt shit of yore.

For what it is, it's a good album. Basic, but good. But it's also lacking when compared to the rest of the scene and how it's come to evolve over the past couple decades. The kind of album you can justify others losing their mind over out of love or hate, but objectively speaking this is quality black metal at its core. It just so happens that those washed up musicians are all still active members in the scene, currently considered iconic legends in some capacity or other, but have clearly ventured so far beyond what's "in" (without caring to be "in", mind you) that the end result is rather... average. The majority of listeners won't be wowed, and the outlying extremes will make up the seemingly disproportionate, reactionary responses and votes, but at the end of the day we all know this is just a simple by the numbers black metal album with some expertise behind it.

Written by Troy Killjoy on 23.08.2019 at 08:38

This is literally what every 90s black metal album would have sounded like if those bands had modern technology.

It's not innovative in any sense of the imagination, but it's a solid black metal album, with absolutely no outside influence aside from their original goal of writing some straightforward, consistent, professional sounding black metal. It's like a bunch of washed up black metal musician friends got together at a bar one night discussing the glory days of the genre and eventually left after crushing about 90 beers between them agreeing to form a new project paying homage to that trve kvlt shit of yore.

For what it is, it's a good album. Basic, but good. But it's also lacking when compared to the rest of the scene and how it's come to evolve over the past couple decades. The kind of album you can justify others losing their mind over out of love or hate, but objectively speaking this is quality black metal at its core. It just so happens that those washed up musicians are all still active members in the scene, currently considered iconic legends in some capacity or other, but have clearly ventured so far beyond what's "in" (without caring to be "in", mind you) that the end result is rather... average. The majority of listeners won't be wowed, and the outlying extremes will make up the seemingly disproportionate, reactionary responses and votes, but at the end of the day we all know this is just a simple by the numbers black metal album with some expertise behind it.

You're a wise man, you're in ms oposition whit your music taste.
I re listen it now, well it sounds where they all left 10 years ago whit All Shall Perish album, good riffs, good Immortal sound, vocals, well they sounds weird
I like part about 90's bm whit modern technology, say it to drum programming bands and cassette lovers what think best sounds is in demo sound garage casettes. Gosh I hate those.

This is a great album, with some terrific songs, "Mighty Ravendark" Gates To Blashyrkh" and "Grim And Dark" being the main standouts for me. It's like they used some of their best riffs for this record and made it like a Sons Of Northern Darkness part 2 which is fine with me just a shame about the production

This album is full of killer tunes but the epic closer "Mighty Ravendark" is something else entirely. It sounds like classic Bathory which is just fine by me.

Written by AndyMetalFreak on 05.12.2022 at 16:58

just a shame about the production

I'm not sure why you'd say this as Peter Tägtgren is a very accomplished producer and has done a great job on this. It sounds clear and sharp but still retains that frosty Immortal atmosphere.