Surprisingly not horrible! For the most part, anything connected with ABSU (but not ABSU itself) is usually 100% shit (Equimanthorn and Proscriptor both come to mind), and the fact that this was released on Cacophonous didn't exactly unleash waves of confidence either (not what I would consider one of my favorite labels), but this is actually a really really good CD. Main-man Mezzadurus (who does everything here except for drums, handled by one Teloc Coraxo) have given us a good 40 minutes of primal black metal with a somewhat noticeable Darkthrone influence (although far from being a copy - more in spirit than anything). Production is thick and gritty, and it all sounds a bit condensed, making the "thickness" of this recording sound that much more evil (of which it conveys a great amount to begin with - this is one seriously dark and mean sounding CD). Celtic Frost ("Morbid Tales") is an obvious influence here, as the guitar has the same kind of sludgy yet sharp tone to it, and the abundance of mid paced sections also emphasis the influence of a younger Tom Warrior. I'd sum this up as Darkthrone (circa "A Blaze In The Northern Sky") minus the Bathory ("The Return") influence, but with a hint of something else (which I cant quite put my finger on) which gives it enough of an original sound that this isn't just another Darkthrone wannabe band. Highlights of the CD are "All One Of Doom", "Yuggothian Slayers", and the piece-de-resistance, "Destroyer" (This song alone would justify picking this CD up). Along with Centuries of Deception, Blood Storm have become one of my 2 favorite American bands right now, and I eagerly look forward to hearing their second CD...

© 1999 chorazaim