Band: Equimanthorn

Title: Exalted Are The Seven Throne Bearers Of Ninnkigal

Label: Displeased Records

Distribution: Displeased Records

Release date: February 2008

Review: CD

The American (or better: international) project Equimanthorn may be one of the most apart ones in the music scene. Occultism, mysticism and influences from different unusual musical styles go perfectly well together with a result that will please adepts of both (Black) Metal and Dark Wave / Ambient. After Nindinugga Nimshimshargal Enlillara ( Unisound , 1993/94), Lectionum Antiquarum , the 1999-compilation with demo material ( Unisound ) and Second Sephira Cella ( From Beyond , 2004), this is the newest release by Absu 's Emperor Proscriptor Magikus , who is also known from projects as, for example, Proscriptor or Ossuarist , or his co-operation with bands / projects as Melechesh , Thornspawn , Judas Iscariot and Equitant . Exalted Are The Seven Throne Bearers Of Ninnkigal has been recorded with equal-minded spirits from bands as Melechesh , Absu , The Soil Bleeds Black and Proscriptor and the result goes, more or less, on in the vein of the former recordings, which means: unique! For more than forty two minutes, Exalted … creates a kind of ritual journey through ancient worlds and esoteric spheres. The Dark Ambient tracks are interspersed with Middle Eastern and Sumerian influences (in both melody and instruments - the latter with traditional instruments such as Sumerian bouzouq and wooden flute) and folkloric elements. The combination of tribal and industrial elements, the mélange of oppressing darkness and occult mythology, it just stands for an album that exceeds the easy-listening releases that pretend to be open-minded. Highly recommended to everyone who can appreciate everything between Shadowcaster , De Infernali , Endura , Absu , Hostia , Neptune Towers , Cernunnos Woods , Proscriptor , Die Wappen Des Thodh , Elhaz or Coph Nia . … I guess …

95/100

Ivan Tibos.