Saturday, December 21, 2024

Svarttjern : "Draw Blood"






Another band flying the flag of true Norwegian Black Metal. This album just came out a few weeks ago and moves at a more thrashing speed. When I say this album is well produced, I am talking about a black metal band, not well produced like a Slipknot album or even Behemoth. They do care about writing songs which works for me. A great deal of Slayer influence in their musical DNA works for me. The title track is closer to what you expect from run-of-the-mill black metal as it's eager to storm the gates.  At least the bass line is present enough to provide the needed muscle. 

If Watain were big partiers they might write an anthem like "Don't Contain Your Lust" It has a catchy stomp to it and is a great deal of fun."Erect Your Congregation" races along faster and is not as fun. Then the album begins to lose a little momentum creatively on "Lick My Flesh' despite dropping down to a bass groove, there is still just a uniform feel to things. Almost more like a blackened version of Motorhead by the time it gets to "Chop, Slit, Flay". Though the more rock n roll moments are fun. "Aluminum Bat Domina" finds them busting out a guitar solo along the punk-drenched thrashing.

I was not expecting a cover of the Rolling Stones' "Under My Thumb". The vocals make no attempt to Jagger things. Thanks to the guitars you can at least tell what the song is. The last song is not the strongest, but it works for what they do and does not suck either, overall this is highly enjoyable, it might have been a contender for top ten black metal albums like the 9th or 10th spot if it came out earlier, as it's more raw and rock n roll than the kind of experimental darkness I prefer, but ever efficient. I will give this one a 9. 




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