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06/21/2007: "3 BANDS THAT FUCKING KILL"

REVIEWS IN SOD MAGAZINE ISSUE #25

FOMORII/WIATR
Split CD
Blackmetal.com
8 Skulls

This past year has been a watershed era for Blackmetal.com, with each series of releases being better and more promising than the last. While some might have been skeptical of a retailer-turned-label, Blackmetal.com have evolved into a fine little imprint in their own right, releasing some of the most fierce (and fiercely genuine) Black Metal releases in ages. And once again, the label has treated us to damned fine pair of cult releases, demos dredged from dungeons and unearthed for the most extreme of tastes. Sharing members with NSBM acts Geimhre and Wolfhammer Division, Fomorii (and side-project, Wiatr) are blissfully free of such politics, focusing instead on obscure (and frequently fascinating) Celtic mythology (the “fomorri” were a clan of sea monsters bent on the destruction of Ireland, if you were wondering). In this regard, I would almost recommend this on the lyrics alone. Musically, this is about what you would expect from a pair of Black Metal demos, and frequently a bit more. The sound is raw, but clean. You’ve heard better, but I’ve heard worse. Fomorii is brutal and about as grim and frostbitten as you’re going to find. The vocals aren’t terrific, but the musicianship is fine, and the concepts are generally well-constructed. The melancholy passages are just average, but the brutal stretches are what and where they need to be. The penchant for experimentation and pagan flourishes are what really distinguish this release. “Belatucadnos” is a highlight, and leads one to wonder what the band might be capable of with an actual recording budget. As for Wiatr, this reviewer found himself actually preferring them over the lead band, but having less to say about it, in the long run. More melodic and epic in feel, there is little to add other than to say that this reviewer has heard many a “professionally recorded” Black Metal album that was not nearly as gripping or well-conceived as this demo. This easily could have been released as an EP on its own merit. Fomorii drummer (namesake Wiatr) recorded all instruments himself, which only adds to the mystique. The vocals are actually superior to Fomorri, layered in a Deicide-meets-Leviathan fashion that immediately clicks throughout the disc. The guitar-work is acceptably primal. Ultimately, this is the better of the two releases, and what this reviewer found himself returning to at the end of the night. Worth pursuing for the Wiatr tracks alone, this is a fine value for the faithful Black Metal hordes. (GZ)

GANZMORD/DODSFERD
Split CD
Blackmetal.com
10 Fucking Skulls

With logos that make about as much sense upside-down as they do rightside-up, this grim, inverted pair of Black Metal hopefuls are yet another dual jewel in the Blackmetal.com crown. With both acts having solid full-length releases to their respective credits, the seasoned Black Metal collector should know exactly what to expect here (and hence may not even need such a review). Ganzmord is a little bass-heavy, but absolutely crushing, fierce, and utterly, utterly savage. This savagery eludes most one-man Black Metal projects, an intensity sorely missing amidst all the cold and melancholy releases that so glut the genre anymore. Production ticks such as the inconsistent drum sounds, or peaking vocals (a la Panzerfaust) seem like minor complaints amid the overall elite feel of the disc. Thrashy, with well-honed guitar chops that betray its grim exterior, were it not for the hit-or-miss production (which most Black Metal fans will probably relish in true hardcore form), I would say this is, riff for bloody riff, as solid and intense as one-man shows can get. With Dodsferd, the listener gets a cleaner, more vintage-leaning sound that works as a perfect counter to the shrill and shrieking Ganzmord. Though represented by fewer tracks, the band leaves as strong a mark as the former, with sharper production, savvier and more streamlined songwriting that makes one want to seek out the band’s other releases. Dodsferd is also the most diverse of the two: “Dodsferd” simply coasts and cascades upon it’s own Nordic ambience, whereas “Pale Forests” has a very primal, early-90’s approach, hell, “Dead Among us” has a near-80’s feel to it that absolutely nails so many saviours to the cross. There is ultimately not a weak track here. Tracks such as “Under the Shadow of Evil” (Ganzmord) and “Dead Among us” (Dodsferd) make it damned difficult to choose a favorite. Thus, this is a rare split release that I feel rates a “worth the purchase” nod for either band involved. Essential blackened art for the seasoned Black Metal connoisseur. (GZ)

UVALL
October Turns . . . Ruined
BlackMetal.com
9 Skulls

In my opinion, the best Funeral Doom resonates like polished obsidian, and that's what Uvall (perhaps a corruption of Vual, the Duke of Hell) has crafted with this latest release. At times despondently Doomy, such as on "These Plague Infested Swamps," while at others hideously Black, such as on the title track, Uvall paints a bleak picture, one filled with desperate angst sure to contaminate even the most optimistic soul. Master-of-arms Lord of Storms turns in one hell of a performance, his guitars thick and juicy, his bass trembling like leaves subjected to a snowstorm, his vocals screechy and eerie, and his keyboards subtle but effective. Helping out are M. A. Rotella, who flavors the proceedings with some acoustic and electric guitars, and drummer Chris Donolan, whose restrained performance speaks volumes. Desolate, minimal, despondent, and at times strangely compelling: All these things, and more, does Uvall bring to the slab. Be sure to have plenty of needles on hand while spinning this one. (OR)