Grimm
Nordisk Vinter
[Independent]
Without a doubt the most obscure release I’ve ever laid my hands on, this is a sloppily-reproduced cassette EP from the fjords of Norway, and is reputedly quite sought after in the underground of late. With a scrawled hand-drawn cover and a hand-written sleeve (band credits etc.), I was naturally rather wary of the content within, but after learning of the participation of one of the blokes in Carpathian Forest (I’m not sure which one, he’s only named as Lord Kansten here), I gave this a fair chance and was suitably impressed.
Not too far away from Carpathian Forest’s material, this shows a definite early Celtic Frost/Hellhammer influence, incorporating a hefty amount of repetitive, simplistic Frost-ridden riffage into their slow/mid-paced black metal brew. There’s also quite a bit of Bathory in here as well, particularly “The Return”, with many of the riffs possessing the same sort of pseudo-doomy, rudimentary feel that The Return conveyed.
Starting off with an interminably irritating, stereotypical EEVVIILLLL intro (you know the deal, a miserable sound collage of nothing but the vocalist’s grim screeches, attempting to create some form of chilling atmosphere but failing miserably), we are thrust swiftly into a cascade of Emperor’s Return sounding rifferama and percussion, all delivered at an admirably glorious Frost-bitten pace. This ultimately sounds more like Celtic Frost/Bathory/Hellhammer/Ungod than it does Norsecore, which garners it a fair bit of respect from this reviewer. Production is generally clear and legible, all the instruments are given a fair bit of space to breathe.
Strictly traditional, thoroughly enjoyable material that never ventures into anything particularly leftfield, this short three song cassette EP should find its way into any Frost fanatic’s heart, or anybody who admires the musical antics of Ungod, Scepter and particularly Bloodlust and Perversion era Carpathian Forest. I’m not too sure if many copies are lying about right now, what with the brouhaha surrounding the rarity of this recording, but I got my copy via At War Records Germany, there’s a good chance that Andi will still have some copies left. If so, you could do worse than pick up this enjoyable slab of traditional black thrash.
[ 7 ]
© 2000 equimanthorn
Not too far away from Carpathian Forest’s material, this shows a definite early Celtic Frost/Hellhammer influence, incorporating a hefty amount of repetitive, simplistic Frost-ridden riffage into their slow/mid-paced black metal brew. There’s also quite a bit of Bathory in here as well, particularly “The Return”, with many of the riffs possessing the same sort of pseudo-doomy, rudimentary feel that The Return conveyed.
Starting off with an interminably irritating, stereotypical EEVVIILLLL intro (you know the deal, a miserable sound collage of nothing but the vocalist’s grim screeches, attempting to create some form of chilling atmosphere but failing miserably), we are thrust swiftly into a cascade of Emperor’s Return sounding rifferama and percussion, all delivered at an admirably glorious Frost-bitten pace. This ultimately sounds more like Celtic Frost/Bathory/Hellhammer/Ungod than it does Norsecore, which garners it a fair bit of respect from this reviewer. Production is generally clear and legible, all the instruments are given a fair bit of space to breathe.
Strictly traditional, thoroughly enjoyable material that never ventures into anything particularly leftfield, this short three song cassette EP should find its way into any Frost fanatic’s heart, or anybody who admires the musical antics of Ungod, Scepter and particularly Bloodlust and Perversion era Carpathian Forest. I’m not too sure if many copies are lying about right now, what with the brouhaha surrounding the rarity of this recording, but I got my copy via At War Records Germany, there’s a good chance that Andi will still have some copies left. If so, you could do worse than pick up this enjoyable slab of traditional black thrash.
[ 7 ]
© 2000 equimanthorn