Thunderbolt / Kataxu
Black Clouds Over Dark Majesty / Roots Thunder
[Ancestral Research]
This CD is the continuation of the partnership between these two main acts from the Polish underground scene, as they already made a split demo, released in 1997 ("Beyond christianity / North"). This split CD features the "Dark clouds aver dark majesty" '97 demo from THUNDERBOLT and the "Roots thunder" '00 demo from KATAXU. The bands here are part of the polish clan involved in political ideas, i.e. they are into the nazi scene from that country, like so many other bands (GRAVELAND, VELES, GONTYNA KRY, ARKONA...). But anyway, we are here for musical purpose and this aspect will not be considered, you have to make yourself your opinion about this aspect of the bands.
THUNDERBOLT has changed its style from the "Beyond Christianity" demo, it does not have the same vocals any more and the music here is less into "traditional" black metal, more "pagan metal - like" intros and outros are used, and the keyboard is more efficient than on their previous stuff. In fact, this is a great surprise for me, as I found the previous demo quite boring after a while (except for the "Key to Eternity" track, which is a pure killer song), these songs are extremely interesting, deep, atmospheric and with, sometimes, a little death metal feeling I think (this is mainly due to the drumstyle). The guitars are clear, reasonably well played (which is quite rare for a Polish "extreme" band) and you can imagine while hearing them the nostalgia of the members for the great vast Carpathian forests that are depicted on the cover. A great recording in fact, if you love pagan stuff as I do, you should hear this stuff.
KATAXU's "Roots Thunder" begins with a conventional intro, then you are caught into the dark realm of Eastern forests by the first song, "my name from the forest". Its background keyboard melody later on comes into an instrumental keyboard part with little interest, to finally come back to the main part with guitar laments and howling screams. Then comes an instrumental keyboard track influenced by GRAVELAND's intro from "In the glare..." : a fire burning with a pagan/folk music in the background (but here, no witch screams as burning in the flames !). The "Roots thunder" track which follows is probably the best from KATAXU on this demo, various atmospheres are explored, this is a very emotional song (the 11' allow you to experience various feelings). This band really plays with atmospheres and they do it quite well, but I have to say that intros/outros are too long and may have been shortened a bit to avoid boring the listener.
Rating : 7 / 10
© 2001 lord pesten
THUNDERBOLT has changed its style from the "Beyond Christianity" demo, it does not have the same vocals any more and the music here is less into "traditional" black metal, more "pagan metal - like" intros and outros are used, and the keyboard is more efficient than on their previous stuff. In fact, this is a great surprise for me, as I found the previous demo quite boring after a while (except for the "Key to Eternity" track, which is a pure killer song), these songs are extremely interesting, deep, atmospheric and with, sometimes, a little death metal feeling I think (this is mainly due to the drumstyle). The guitars are clear, reasonably well played (which is quite rare for a Polish "extreme" band) and you can imagine while hearing them the nostalgia of the members for the great vast Carpathian forests that are depicted on the cover. A great recording in fact, if you love pagan stuff as I do, you should hear this stuff.
KATAXU's "Roots Thunder" begins with a conventional intro, then you are caught into the dark realm of Eastern forests by the first song, "my name from the forest". Its background keyboard melody later on comes into an instrumental keyboard part with little interest, to finally come back to the main part with guitar laments and howling screams. Then comes an instrumental keyboard track influenced by GRAVELAND's intro from "In the glare..." : a fire burning with a pagan/folk music in the background (but here, no witch screams as burning in the flames !). The "Roots thunder" track which follows is probably the best from KATAXU on this demo, various atmospheres are explored, this is a very emotional song (the 11' allow you to experience various feelings). This band really plays with atmospheres and they do it quite well, but I have to say that intros/outros are too long and may have been shortened a bit to avoid boring the listener.
Rating : 7 / 10
© 2001 lord pesten