Norwegian Black Metal, simple and effective, obvious influences drawn from Satyricon's 'Shadow Throne', vocals reminiscent of Immortal's vocalist. The interesting thing is that it's an American, almost anonymous, totally underground project, which by using quite simple elements manages to create a rather somber, dark and not a totally uninteresting album. Almost without keyboards, no female voices of some opera singer kidnapped from a shiny Choir, and no Cradle Of Filth gimmicks. Actually, Judas Iscariot is a one-man-project, of a person who calls himself Akhenaten (sounds familiar?...), and under that stage-name he operates since 1992. That person is strongly inspired from the European Black Metal scene, and if to believe his words, actually pretty much despises the American Brutal/Death scene, which according to him is pathetic and childish, and some bands' members are total posers that listen to country music in their spare time. Especially he refers to acts like Six Feet Under, Obituary, and Cannibal Corpse ("Cannibal Crap" using his words). Personally I tend to agree specifically with reference to the above mentioned bands. Under the name 'Judas Iscariot' he had already recorded about four full length albums, and if you're not a fanatic fan of the Black Metal underground , you're not supposed to know or hear this musical material. After all, American Black Metal has never been fashionable and has always been underrated. Above that, who has ever heard of the rather veteran Moribund Records label (represents acts such as Windham Hell, Thorr's Hammer, Wind of The Black Mountains...), under whose wings J.I. operates? Mr. Akhenaten is not a satanic worshiper. He defines himself more as a Nihilist, whose main influences are Fridrich Nitzsche's writings; Denial of a monotheistic god belief ("Only monkeys believe in god"), and the desire to ascend above these petty issues and ludicrous mortals who had crowned a human being as god's son, some 2000 years ago. He says it is ridiculous just the thought of it, and again I tend to agree to these not completely illogical proclamations. I have never been too enthusiastic about Black Metal, mostly because its lack of power and due to the fact that too often than not the guitar sounds tend to get lost is a sea of incoherent buzz of flies and wall of noise. Nevertheless there's one quality I can not argue with - and one which Akhenaten proves well in 'Distant In Solitary Night' - and that only this kind of musical sub-genre is capable of producing mystical ambiences, dark and spiritual atmosphere no other style in Heavy Metal can cope with. The music J.I. plays is definitely such; Again, without any additional ingredients but the standard playing instruments, the gloom, chill and musical message are well announced and fired right in the face of the listener. One track fast and aggressive, the next one slow and dreamy, the simple music can bring enjoyment even to the most sophisticated listener. One needs to spin the CD a couple of times or maybe more, on the CD player, in order to acknowledge the uniqueness of J.I. and in order to enjoy powerful quality Black Metal without getting lost within a sea of keyboards, castrated vocalists, praise songs to the devil and other cliches. It's a shame that a label such as Moribund is not well represented and poorly distributed in general, and would it ever be differently, surely would it open a window to unique musical styles on one hand, but uncompromising ones on the other. Recommended to those which are longing for true winter!

© 2000 c. drishner