Black Metal History Month - Final Dose :"Under the Eternal Shadow"

 

The UK-based band is billed as being Black Metal meets punk, but to my ears, they are more Black Metal than not. Sure there are some crude arrangements with the band going after things with a primitive aggression. To me, Venom always felt more like a punk band than a metal band. The snarl of the vocals is very metal. Are the chord progressions very stripped-down and simplistic? Yes, but the same could be said of Watain or Darkthrone at times. Sometimes what is perhaps their punk influence raises its head up in a manner that sounds closest to perhaps GISM. They write songs more like a grindcore band where they throw in twists and cram as many riffs into the song even if those riffs are simple. There is even singing on "Rite of Spring". Sometimes it is functional chaos coming at you. "Rite of Spring" is the first song that impresses me. 

"Servant" is more of an interlude than a song. There are crude industrial elements in play. Normally raw black metal is not my thing. But this at least does not sound like it was recorded in their garage. A little more punk flows in the veins of the savage thrashing to "Dark Paradise". But this does not sound like some guy recording this all by himself in his bedroom, it's a real band banging this out which goes further with me. It's a fun listen so far. "Wretched' is more blast beat driven in paces, but is straightforward almost like feral rock n roll. This drummer is really laying into his kit and beating the shit out of it. Of course, I will love their detour into death rock for "Locked in the Black Dungeon". 

"Revenge" has some hardcore influence in its angry charge but there is just as much metal flowing in its veins. It's a fund sound, not the most groundbreaking thing I have heard, but you can bang your head to it.  The last track is melodic but more of an outro than a song. I'll give this album a 9, as it won me over, it's better than expected, and while I am not sure how often I will listen to it, it's a worthwhile investment for fans of bands like Devil Master and Midnight, perhaps more black metal than either of those projects. 

pst65