This arrived at my doorstep yesterday and honestly, it's getting better with each spin. You're review was spot on, Steel! Cheers

It's a very good album. No more, no less. Lots of people will expect a goddamn masterpiece just because it's been 9 years since the last album. They will be disappointed. Others might enjoy the album, because it's basically what's best about Immortal. Since Abbath is gone, this album has a strong Holocaust/Battles vibe, but it also bears all the trademarks of later era Immortal.

"Where Mountains Rise" has a riff that is almost 100% identical to a riff from Iron Maiden's "Where Eagles Dare". Even the drums are similar. Which goes to show how genres overlap seamlessly. "Mighty Ravendark" is basically Bathory circa "Hammerheart", which is even less surprising, and again confirms how immensely influential Bathory is.

This year has been quite good when it comes to black metal: Kaoteon, Gaerea, Funeral Mist, and now Immortal.

Thank God for Daniell always telling us exactly how everyone is going to enjoy / receive albums right after they get reviewed / newsed

Stil dubious about the band. All Shall Fall is their only release I own and while I don't listen to it very often I stil enjoy the atmosphere. Not sure if this is Black Metal though. I shall try to give this album a try but the first tracks didn't catch me in, they're not bad, just don't appeal to me. End of useless comment.

I havent heard the whole album yet. But what i have heard was just plain bland. It could have come from ANY black metal band in the early 90s. Seriously it was just plain cookie cutter shit. What i used to love about immortal was the fact that they sounded nothing like any other black metal band. Now? Just plain bland.

And for the record, abbaths album was stupid as fuck. So no. Not about the split.

Written by Mercurial on 05.07.2018 at 14:22

Thank God for Daniell always telling us exactly how everyone is going to enjoy / receive albums right after they get reviewed / newsed

You get it, man!

Written by Lanthros on 05.07.2018 at 15:17

I havent heard the whole album yet. But what i have heard was just plain bland. It could have come from ANY black metal band in the early 90s.

It's not Immortal's fault that you heard hundreds of bands since Immortal's heyday in the 90's.

Written by Daniell on 05.07.2018 at 15:33

It's not Immortal's fault that you heard hundreds of bands since Immortal's heyday in the 90's.

Are you seriously blaming a listener for having too much experience in a field, above the idea of a band potentially being derivative? That's some next level white-knighting.

Written by Mercurial on 05.07.2018 at 16:16

Written by Daniell on 05.07.2018 at 15:33

It's not Immortal's fault that you heard hundreds of bands since Immortal's heyday in the 90's.

Are you seriously blaming a listener for having too much experience in a field, above the idea of a band potentially being derivative? That's some next level white-knighting.

Not blaming you, not at all. Immortal are what they've always been. Why should they re-invent themselves?

Written by Daniell on 05.07.2018 at 16:24

Not blaming you, not at all. Immortal are what they've always been. Why should they re-invent themselves?

Didn't say they should. Why should someone get called out for listening to too much music and having an opinion based on that fact? "It's not x-band's fault that you find them derivative, it's your fault for listening to too much music." You're practically absolving bands from potential criticism. It's absurd.

Making the same music you always did does not make a band exempt from criticism either.

One wise man lives in MS; I hope its eb enough to nominate this, because others are against this, just saying.

Written by Bad English on 05.07.2018 at 16:33

One wise man lives in MS; I hope its eb enough to nominate this, because others are against this, just saying.

The awards are always about highlighting lesser artists to the MS public. Big name bands resting on their laurels will always win but it's the innovative stuff by younger artists that are the stars of the awards.

Written by Daniell on 05.07.2018 at 15:33

Written by Lanthros on 05.07.2018 at 15:17

I havent heard the whole album yet. But what i have heard was just plain bland. It could have come from ANY black metal band in the early 90s.

It's not Immortal's fault that you heard hundreds of bands since Immortal's heyday in the 90's.

Point of fact, i listened to them in the 90s too. Even then they stood out from the crowd. They do NOT stand out now. Also my comparison is based on bands from that time period. This album could have come from any of them. Could be dark throne, could be mayhem, could be dark funeral. The point is that they apparently threw away the sound that made them immortal in the first place. For all the statements of "immortal are back to their roots", no. No they arent. They are just reveling in cliche and stereotype now. So yes i CAN blame them for that.

Also, the amount of music ive listened to actually gives me a better foundation for criticism.

Written by Mercurial on 05.07.2018 at 16:37

Written by Bad English on 05.07.2018 at 16:33

One wise man lives in MS; I hope its eb enough to nominate this, because others are against this, just saying.

The awards are always about highlighting lesser artists to the MS public. Big name bands resting on their laurels will always win but it's the innovative stuff by younger artists that are the stars of the awards.

that's why sometimes quality is ingonred, and its all about some people ego, BIG EGO.

Written by Bad English on 05.07.2018 at 17:30


that's why sometimes quality is ingonred, and its all about some people ego, BIG EGO.

I'd say it's more about taste, which has nothing to do with ego. Insisiting a band be nominated in the awards is kinda egocentric though because it implies you think your taste is more valid than others

Wow, one blaming a listener's habit over defending an overrated band is beyond the sane person.

Written by Lanthros on 05.07.2018 at 17:11

Point of fact, i listened to them in the 90s too. Even then they stood out from the crowd. They do NOT stand out now. Also my comparison is based on bands from that time period. This album could have come from any of them. Could be dark throne, could be mayhem, could be dark funeral.

Yes, because the crowd is infinitely larger. And they play what they used to play. I don't think this album could bemistaken for Darkthrone or Mayhem, or Dark Funeral. It has signature Immortal sound. If you expected them to break new ground, I can see why you are disappointed. I didn't so I'm not.

Written by Lanthros on 05.07.2018 at 17:11

The point is that they apparently threw away the sound that made them immortal in the first place. For all the statements of "immortal are back to their roots", no. No they arent. They are just reveling in cliche and stereotype now. So yes i CAN blame them for that.

I agree, they are not back to their roots. But I think that they never abandoned those roots.
And yes, if you think otherwise, you can blame them for that. It's your right as a fan.

Written by Lanthros on 05.07.2018 at 17:11

Also, the amount of music ive listened to actually gives me a better foundation for criticism.

Of course it does, I never claimed otherwise.

What I'm trying to say is that this album isn't that different from their previous stuff. It fits well somewhere between Battles, Holocaust, Beasts and Heart of Winter. And it's quite good - I've had it on repeat for a few days now. Some of the songs are truly excellent, especially "Blacker of Worlds".

To listen this band since the 90s and still remain clueless is something I for one would not boast about, but be ashamed. If back to the roots means copy/pasting their old material, then I prefer the music on this album. Those albums were unique, something that cannot be repeated or reinvented.

How the hell you can claim this album is nothing alike their old material is beyond me. From the very first riff of the first song they released from this album one can recognize the Immortal sound and style. The only thing that differs from the old material is the voice, Demonaz trying to imitate Abbath yet he makes a better impersonation of Nattefrost.

Immortal has always been cliche LoL. From the first album. Heck, from the very first fucking demo! They have always remained within the cliches of the genre, unlike many of the old school black metal bands who diversified over time. They are the AC/DC of black metal.

"Also, the amount of music ive listened to actually gives me a better foundation for criticism."

This one is so cheesy, it gives me goosebumps. A feeble authority claim based upon a highly doubtful and hard to prove musical knowledge and experience. Assuming you have the experience, it is just appalling how little you learned from it.

Written by TheMAGAmvm on 06.07.2018 at 14:48

To listen this band since the 90s and still remain clueless is something I for one would not boast about, but be ashamed.

How the hell you can claim this album is nothing alike their old material is beyond me.

Assuming you have the experience, it is just appalling how little you learned from it.

Feigned internet indignation over people not comparing bands quite right is pretty cringe too

The album is very good, better than what I expected to be honest. However, I am probably one of the few that enjoyed Abbath's debut as much, if not a bit more even.

As for the MSA nominations, this has been an outstanding year for black metal so far and competition is going to be very strong.

Yeah this album sounds like Demonaz, i mean its return to the old Immortal which is nice i think. Its nothing special but far better than All Shall Fall though , yes it falls short of Sons Of Northern Darkness.

But then again SOND was Abbath's child and early Immortal was Demonaz.

So , yeah kinda good record overall.

It brings back Immortal to their old roots again, i really dig this álbum. Really awsome.

Written by nikarg on 17.07.2018 at 11:10

The album is very good, better than what I expected to be honest. However, I am probably one of the few that enjoyed Abbath's debut as much, if not a bit more even.

As for the MSA nominations, this has been an outstanding year for black metal so far and competition is going to be very strong.

Well more you live, after years you re listen and you think its an awesome, will Is ay this about iron maiden latet 2 ? lol