| CD REVIEW Gorath |
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Band: Gorath The Belgian horde of Gorath, with vocalist/ guitar player Filip Dupont (ex-Ill Fares The Land/ The Quiescent/ P:407/ Mahlstrøm), returns with their fourth album, which was mixed by Reinier Schenk (Shumcot Studio) and mastered at Unisound by Dan Swanö(!). The album goes on in the vein of Misotheism (2008), yet with a better sound and more mature compositions. And the lyrical concept still deals with local heresies, heritage and heathen traditions. MXCII, which is Latin for 1092, consists of seven uncomfortable and pitch-dark hymns with a doomish and grim approach and a deep, dense atmosphere. Most parts are rather slow, giving the majestic tracks a funereal and desperate touch. However, a few parts are much faster and fierce, and this elegance reminds me to an unholy trinity between Panchrysia, Gotmoor and Iconoclasm! The rough production covers the whole into a Nordic, slightly Post-Black-alike sphere, in a (modest) way comparable to the Norwegian scene (Satyricon, Mayhem, Khold). But Gorath do it with an own redefinition, showing how raw, deadly and uncompromising yet melodic mid-tempo Black Metal must sound. Even though Elite (2005), The Fourth Era (2006) and Misotheism were of a superb quality, this new album, MXCII, certainly is Gorath’s strongest (read: most mature, overwhelming and obscure) recording to date. Every single song, with its variation and conviction, is a naughty pleasure! Total running time: forty nine minutes. 94/100 Ivan Tibos. |