| CD REVIEW Throne Of Katarsis |
 |
|
Band: Throne Of Katarsis Throne Of Katarsis hail from Norway and were formed in 2003 by Vardalv (drums) and Grimnisse (all other instruments). Isn’t that the kind of line-up that brings some excellent Norwegian names to mind? A coincidence? Anyway, the duo entered the Black Dimension Studio, owned by producer / engineer Stein Sund (ex-Einherjer, Evig Natt, Dwelling Souls, Thundra), for the recording of their debut album. Before, Throne Of Katarsis did record a first demo tape, Unholy Holocaustwinds, which got re-released afterwards on vinyl and MCD, and a second demo, Blodslakt, which never got released officially. Helvete – Det Iskalde Morket consists of five hymns with a total running time of over fifty three minutes (!). Every track stands for Nordic underground superiority, because of both sound and performance. The sound is cold, dry and oh so underground, but with the most decent finalisation, while the latter, the performance, well, what can I say. Every track breaths the atmosphere of the early nineties, the long songs are gloriously structured (with several tempo- and melody-changes), and the craftsmanship equals many ‘major’ names from back then. The overall tempo varies from mid-tempo to slow, yet does contain several faster explosions, and the vocals are deep and sulphuric, indeed that beautiful path to purity. Several parts are strongly Burzum-alike; other important interfaces are Darkthrone, early Satyricon, Hades Almighty etc. Yet again, this kind of ulterior musical art, Nordic underground Black Metal, does not need to be renewing or inventive, it needs to convince, and in Throne Of Katarsis’ case it does! Sublime! 95/100 Ivan Tibos. |