| CD REVIEW Gorath |
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Band: Gorath Gorath are one of the many splendid Belgian acts with e.g. Filip Dupont in its ranks – think: Ill fares The Land, The Quiescent, Mahlstrøm, P:407 etc. Last year these guys released the MXCII-album, which I did consider one of the best (Black) Metal albums from 2010 (review posted May 17th 2010). This fifth album, called Apokalypsis (Unveiling The Age That Is Not To Come), consists of seven titles, having a total running time of almost fifty minutes. And hurray, praise the Horned One: this stuff shamelessly (read: gloriously) goes on in the vein of last year’s full length or 2008’s Misotheism, yet slightly different again as well. Opening track Before The Throne Of The Demiurg starts as a slow, suffocating and ominous Black-Doom epic, yet after two minutes it suddenly gets faster, much faster. It’s the kind of Black Majesty that beautifully defines the Belgian answer to the Norwegian scene. Like the other hymns, this one is interspersed with an interesting variety of industrial elements, as well as some love-making to the Funereal, Suicidal and Post-Black scene(s). The main difference with the former albums might be the speed. Apokalypsis is much faster in general than (ever) before. It does give the album a more straight-forward approach, focussing on victory and perseverance. The local, heathen way, of course… There are many breaks and tempo-changes, and more than once it all transforms into weird dimensions of oppression and psychotropic schizophrenia. Another ‘progression’ is that this album explores new spheres by increased experimentation. No, there are no bullshit try-outs, of course; I’m referring to the many layers behind this extremely apocalyptic piece of Black Art. Each excerpt is an unexpected yet unique journey, and time after time you might experience new elements to impress. For fans of: Panchrysia, Aguynguerran, Gotmoor, Enthroned, Iconoclasm (Belgium), or Thorns (!), Khold, Mayhem, Massemord or Gorgoroth (Norway). 95/100 Ivan Tibos. |