![]() ![]() Northern Chaos Gods has a bit of a slump in the middle, with Grim and Dark and Called To Ice failing to harness the same brilliance as the earlier songs, though the latter does deliver some blistering ferocity.Īs Northern Chaos Gods begins to draw to a close, IMMORTAL harness atmosphere and aggression in equal parts with Where Mountains Rise. ![]() However, the sinister, aggressive riffing and epic chorus of the former and the more stomping, blackened groove of the latter deliver a delicious slice of ice cold mayhem. Typically, the following Into Battle Ride and Gates To Blashyrkh would be considered up-tempo blasts, anything that followed the title track would feel a little more mid-paced. This is also the first taste we get of Demonaz taking up the mic for IMMORTAL, and he delivers excellence. Breakneck riffing, a short but blistering solo and an effective, short hook all come together in the ferocious title track to deliver a forewarning of the aural savagery to come. The title track is a truly savage opener, displaying a fury that is totally unrestrained. And what does the title-track opener display of IMMORTAL‘s intentions for Northern Chaos Gods? Is it an epic, symphony-heavy blast of musical escapism? Does it hint at a new direction for the band? Does it ease the listener in to the record, providing a restrained approach before moving into the blast beats and frostbitten riffs we know and love? Absolutely not. Opening tracks are a statement of intent for the rest of the album. But do his vocals compare to Abbath’s voice on previous IMMORTAL albums, and do his riffs have the same power they used to? One more spoiler, the answer to this is once again yes. He has remained within the band as the manager and lyricist since his departure as a performing member, but Northern Chaos Gods marks the first album since Blizzard Beasts to feature Demonaz as a major contributor to the music as well as the lyrics. The founding member has been absent from the recording booth and the stage for over twenty years as a result of tendonitis, leaving him unable to play guitar at the speed required for a black metal band. Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly, this record marks the return of Demonaz. ![]() They are one of the biggest names in modern black metal, and it is important to ascertain whether Northern Chaos Gods is a worthy return for the Norwegian black metal legends (spoiler: the answer to this one is also yes.). Secondly, this is the first album from the band in almost a decade. Northern Chaos Gods is the first full-length album since IMMORTAL‘s inception that he has not been a part of, and begs the question of whether the band can survive without the Abbath brand at the help (spoiler: the answer is yes.). ![]() For one, IMMORTAL is a band that has always been synonymous with Abbath – the frontman is one of the most recognisable men in extreme metal. This is especially true of Northern Chaos Gods. It’s always hard to review, analyse and dissect an album without giving thought to the rest of the band’s discography, and the context of the situations surrounding the release. After several years of silence following his departure, in which time Abbath himself released a solo album, IMMORTAL have finally returned to the black metal spotlight with Northern Chaos Gods. This transpired in 2014-2015, already over half a decade after the release of their last offering, 2009’s All Shall Fall. A legal battle erupted over the band’s trademark between frontman Abbath and Demonaz (original guitarist, then-lyricist and manager) and Hough, which eventually led to the departure of Abbath. It doesn’t seem like all that long ago that a new album from Norwegian black metal veterans IMMORTAL was a distant thought. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |