Bahimiron - Funeral Black
Review: This chaotic black metal blends the acerbic melody of Gorgoroth with the punklike ripping blast of North American black metal bands. The result emerges as a relentless blast with chaotic vocals and abundant percussion wrapped around a melodic hook, which creates a saturating mood of mystery.
By avoiding the blasting literality of most USBM, Bahimiron ground their work in a notion that can develop and expands like tendrils of night infesting a sacred space. Riffs mostly follow a cyclic pattern with detours and accents, relying on a layering of chaotic vocals and rolling percussion, as well as variety in speed and technique, to deepen the immersion of the listener. While the riotous cave vocals may come from a later Gorgoroth work like Destroyer, the two- and three-note riffs are pure Pentagram.
In the age when it emerged, this three-song demo was a burst of fresh spirit among the hack-n-slash chromatic power chorders. It brought back the ancient sense of occult purpose to this music as well as its inner beauty, and this gave its violence place and elegance. The result is a high-handed and predatory sound that also lures us away from modern society with its feral and intriguing sound.