I initially came into contact with these two bands upon hearing their split debut album entitled " Black Clouds Over Dark Majesty/ Roots Thunder." I immediately took a liking to both bands, but Kataxu, In my opinion, really made the album what it was. I have rarely heard pieces so moving produced from a black metal band. Anyhow, it was somewhat of a dissapointment to travel back in time, and hear the two bands in their more undeveloped stages, considering how much progression had taken place between the releases. Thunderbolt, for any of you who might have heard them, sound primarily the same. They have developed a very dry sound, based on simple drum patterns layered over well executed guitar riffs. It actually reminds somewhat of a faster Via Dolorosa, for those of you who remember Opthalamia. Kataxu on the other hand, obviously were not ready to produce a demo at this time, because their half really does a disgrace to the whole album. I'm not sure if they were simply trying to be cute, with songtitles " from penetration, real, child, gothic, and dance," but one would certainly get that impression. Their material sounds nothing like the later split with Thunderbolt, and its excellent mixture of black metal, and desolate keyboards. All in all, I'd say this is a fairly average output of material. If you wish to hear something that gives the two justice, I would suggest picking up their aforementioned debut, it won't dissapoint.

© 2001 orodruin