Black Metal History Month - Amaut Pavle :" Transylvanian Glare"

 

In looking around the inner webs to see what was being regarded as the best black metal coming out so far this year, this Finnish band's name came up, Like most black metal out of Finland it is rough around the edges. It carries a punk influence , with the depraved scowl of the vocals keeping things grim and metallic. The drumming is pretty simplistic and not getting a great deal of help from the production, though there is clarity in the guitar tones captured here so things are not overly Cvlt. The second song is only a minute and a half thanks to the unrestrained speed they pursue the songs with.

There is more of the classic black metal melody in "With Sulphur Carriage" the snarl is more of a Immortal like croak that makes the lyrics more easily understood on this one. There does not seem to be quite the same vampiric theme that the title of the album suggests, but the natural darkness that should come with black metal. They pick up the pace in order to be "Baptized in Jesus' Piss". Thanks to the guitars getting on the same page as the drums things are more punk, until a gallop shows up for the golden showers to come. The title track finds a more balanced approach to their style of black metal, with not so much raw power, but more of a fiendish metal mood. 

When things slow down for the throb that carries "Final Descent" I am more eager to become a believer in their cause. Darkness is more important for black metal than running off primal aggression. Punk can run off primal aggression so darkness is what separates black metal from punk. This is not to say they do not speed back up, as they do, but the dynamic contrast is certainly more present than the blast attack that follows with the hyper thrashings of "Judgement From Below".  You can actually hear the bass in "Call From the Void" which is worth points in my book. They also prove their musical merit with the instrumental closing track, and while this mainly bookends a guitar solo, black metal bands do not indulge in those as often so it works. I normally do not like my black metal this rough around the edges, but they are good at what they do and place the emphasis on songs which I respect, I will give this album a 9.