Norwegian Metal

Iskald – The Sun I Carried Alone Review

By Lord Doom on January 26, 2011 in 2.5, 2011, Black Metal, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, 4 comments

When reviewing albums, I find they usually fall into one of three categories. “Instant Winners” that stick with you and get plenty of praise, “Growers” that may take anything from a couple of listens to a couple of years to finally sink in and then “Duds” that just seem to evaporate as soon as the album finishes. The last category is the hardest to give an honest opinion on simply because there is very little to hook in to and unfortunately, I find Iskald’s latest offering, The Sun I Carried Alone, to be treading down this path.

Nidingr – Wolf Father Review

By Angry Metal Guy on January 24, 2011 in 2010, 2011, 3.5, Black Metal, Norwegian Metal, Reviews, The End Records, Black Metal, 0 comments

When I got this disc last year via Jester Records I missed it. I don’t know why it got shuffled off to the side, or what happened exactly, but for some reason it just didn’t get done in time. In any case, I just recently got wind that they’re readying for the US release so I figured I’d break out the Internet-pen and have at a review of this super group’s (Line-up: bass and guitars: Teloch [1349, Gorgoroth, Ov Hell, Orcustus, Umoral, Konsortium]; bass and guitars (again): Blargh [Gravferd, DÃ¸dheimsgard]; vocals: Cpt. Estrella Grasa [Kort Prosess]; and drums: Hellhammer [Immortal, Shining, Thorns, Umoral, Mayhem, Winds, Arcturus]) stab at reclaiming Norwegian black metal glory.

Sirenia – The Enigma of Life Review

By Angry Metal Guy on January 11, 2011 in 1.5, 2011, Doom Metal, Norwegian Metal, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Doom Metal, Gothic Metal, 25 comments

So, I must admit, I was excited to hear this new Sirenia record. For whatever reason I’d not spent much time getting to know the band of former Tristania founding member Morten Veland and I guess I figured that Sirenia had to be pretty good ’cause, well, I’m willing to give people who have done cool shit the benefit of the doubt. Of course, it’s been a decade since the band formed and I’ve never had the kind of intrinsic motivation to actually go out there and try to learn the about the band, and after listening to The Enigma of Life I’m pretty damn glad I never wasted my damn time [see the final note, however – AMG].

Things You Might Have Missed 2010: Byfrost – Black Earth

By Steel Druhm on December 2, 2010 in 2010, Black Metal, Norwegian Metal, Things You Might have Missed 2010, Thrash Metal, Black Metal, 4 comments

Ahhh, my Immortal. Yeah, I love Immortal and I’m not afraid to admit it. Be it old Immortal, new Immortal, I love it all! I’m plenty keen on Abbath’s solo project I as well. Since Immortal and I can only record so much material and I always want more, I was happily surprised by the debut full length Black Earth from Norway’s own Byfrost (available on Painkiller Records). Hailing from the very same town as the mighty Immortal, Byfrost plays a style of blackened thrash so remarkably similar, that fans of the frigid ones can’t help but smile and thrash along. The vocal style of Heavy Harms (winning name) is nearly identical to that of Abbath and the overall song structures and riffing stylesÂwill remind you of Immortal and I equally.