Band:	Stormcrow
Album:	Wounded Skies
Style:	Black metal
Release date:	2004
A review by:	Herzebeth

01. Keeping The Serpent's Path (Intro)
02. Dark Promises (Are Always Kept By Satan)
03. Demons
04. Anthems From Our Martyr's Graveland
05. Wounded Skies

To be honest with you all, I don't even know how this album found its way to my place?I never contacted Dwell Records and surely I didn't contact the band; so this EP came out of nowhere but to tell you the truth, I'm glad it did. Stormcrow is actually an interesting Black Metal band with a good scheme; let me talk a little more about this.

I'm really picky when it comes to this genre; when Black Metal sounds as raw as a wounded cow I hate it for being irrelevant and monotonous, and when Black Metal becomes melodic and pompous I hate it for being extremely gay. Fortunately Stormcrow manages to create a mixture of both divisions, they present aggressive chords with harmonious riffs and astounding music overall.

This is actually their first EP if I'm not mistaken; they have released only a couple of demos but we get this kind quality in their music? This is more than impressive indeed; I know bands with more than 4 full-lengths wrapped in shitty execution for crying out loud. The grim intro sets the general mood of the whole record by presenting chilling sounds and a shivering atmosphere; when the music begins everything detonates stridently with hostile riffing, scary vocalizations and fast as hell drumming. The whole album captures the same essence of this track actually, the band adds a couple of layers here and there but the music never loses its pace at all (Except in the last track which is a total masterpiece!).

Less than 20 minutes were enough for me to like this band; they have flaws of course, after all this is their debut EP, but if they keep growing, adding versatility and polishing their sound, they'll become a GREAT Black Metal band for sure. I highly recommend this record to everyone into the genre; you'll get an amazing layout with castles and a bunch of black-and-white guys, great music and archetypical satanic lyrics, what else could you ask for?

Best Tracks: "Wounded Skies", "Dark Promises (Are Always Kept By Satan)"