DarkThrone
- Under A Funeral Moon
1993 (Nor)
Rating:
92
There are few Black Metal bands that were as important as Darkthrone. They are
one of the founders of todays black metal. None of the Darkthrone records sound
alike, from death metal to the grimest black metal you can imagine. The first
song, "Natassja In Eternal Sleep", is one of my favorite Darkthrone songs. Its
grim and dark, the way black metal should be. "Summer Of The Diobolical
Holocaust" is fast, brutal and grim as Darkthrone always is. "The Dance Of
Eternal Shadows" starts slow and doomish but changes to a more "Summer Of The
Diobolical Holocaust" feel. "Unholy Black Metal", is for me one of the Black
Metal anthems, fast & brutal and with cool lyrics. You can easly hear the
Bathory influences. I have always prefered Black Metal with Norwegians lyrics,
on "Under A Funeral MooN" its only one song - but its awesome, "Inn i de dype
skoger favn" is togheter with "Unholy Black Metal" the only songs where the
music is made by Zephyrous (bass) but all lyrics are made by Fenriz, Satan's
Poet. A must for all fans of true Norwegian Black Metal. Cradle of Filth???? yea
right... "Natassja, I'll get these goddam angels Drunk..."
Darkthrone
- Transilvanian Hunger 1994 (Nor)
Rating:
95
Darkthrone at their absolute grimmest. The production is as necro as it gets.
The title track, is awesome. With it's depressive melody line and grim vocals.
"I En Hall Med Flesk Og Mjöd" is probaly the best "Transilvanian Hunger" song
togheter with the title track. Depressive and it got great lyrics, actually the
first four lyrics are written by Fenris and the rest of the lyrics are written
by Varg Vikernes (Burzum). As you probaly have figured out, this isn't
recomendable for Cradle Of Filth fans, but the ones you like their black metal
in the old Norse way. And this is truly an classic. A Must have actually. True
Norwegian Black Metal
Darkthrone
- PanzerFaust 1995 (Nor)
Rating:
93
This is one of the most hated bands in the world best moments. Can it be more
grim than this?? (well... actually, check out "Transylvanian Hunger"...) "En
vind av Sorg", the first song, is an awesome song, great lyrics, fills you with
grief... "Triumphant Gleam" is an more uptempo, punkish black metal song. "The
Hordes Of Nebulah" is an slow, almost death metal stylish song, not amongs my
favorite Darkthrone songs although its a great song. "Hans Siste Vinter",
another awesome song. Great lyrics and great riffs. Absolute one of the best
Darkthrone songs. . "Behold The Throne Of Might" is more uptempoed again,
in the same vein as "Triumphant Gleam". "Quintessence" is another slow, death
metal song. Great riffs and it has, along with the other songs, the dark
atmosphere that only Darkthrone and Burzum can (could) create. "Snø Og
Granskog", the last song is only talking over some trumpet sounds. It's actually
a poem made by Tarjei Vesaas. Another must have in the search of True Norwegian
Black Metal. "Minnes de svundne tider. Et hav av tid har gått siden den gang.
Norrønes tro og skikk."
Demons and
Wizards - S/T 2000 (Usa)
Rating:
95
This is the debut album of Demons & Wizards. The men behind is the not unfamous
Jon Schaffer from Iced Earth and Hansi Kürsch from Blind Guardian. The guest
Musicians are Jim Morris (lead guitar) and Mark Prator(drums). The album
contains great songs with alot of variations. Heavy trash riffs from Schaffer
and with Hansi's amazing voice can't be bad. Songs like "Poor Man's Crusade" and
"Blood On My Hands" shows how REAL music should sound like. They have also
covered the Cream classic "White Room", (Helloween also did that on their Metal
Jukebox), which is a great song. The layout, all pictures and the cool pop up
cover is looking great and they have used much time on it to make all perfect. I
would also keep my eyes open for the extremely limited Double LP version! So it
ain't much negative about this realease. Buy if you are a fan of Iced or
Guardian.
Bruce
Dickinson - Tattooed Millionaire 1990 (Eng)
Rating:
70
Bruce Dickinson got one of the best voices in the whole Heavy Metal Scene. He is
best known as the singer in Iron Maiden but he has also sung with Samson, both
of them was leading bands in the N. W. O. B. H. M. genre. This is his first solo
album, released when he still was playing with Iron Maiden. Janick Gers of Iron
Maiden plays the guitars on the record. "Tattooed Millionaire" is nothing
spesial, the music sounds very much like the Dickinson years of Samson. The
first song, "Son Of A Gun", could easly fitted on "No Prayer For The Dying"
(Iron Maiden) record. An ok tune, but nothin spesial. The title track is to me
the best song. Very melodical and popish like the rest of the record but its a
slighty better song. This isn't one of those records you run down to the record
store to buy but I dont regret buying it neither. Fans of Samson, Saxon and
other N. W. O. B. H. M. might find this interesting.
Bruce
Dickinson - Balls To Piccasso 1994 (Eng)
Rating:
93
Luckly this Bruce Dickinson record is much better than "Tattooed Millionaire".
Its heavier and it got a more modern sound. He has also got ridd of Janick Gers
and replaced him with Roy Z. Bruce Dickinson at this time wasn't a member of
Iron Maiden neither. The first song "Ciclops" is great. Heavy riffs with
experimental samples and drum sounds. Works great! "Hell No" starts whit a cool
"clean" sound and got a cool "ball-kickin" chorus! "Gods Of War" is also a song
in the same vein as "Hell No", it doesn't sound like anything from "Tattooed
Millionaire" or Iron Maiden so it's great that a man with 10 years in the music
industry don't repeat him self. "Laughing In The Hiding Bush" is an real heavy
song with a cool groove. One of my favorite Dickinson solo songs. "Change Of
Heart" is an awesome ballad. Played with a "spanish feel", just awesome. "Sacred
Cowboys" sounds alittle like "Be Quick Or Be Dead" but much faster and "psycho",
it is also one of my favorites. The last song "Tears Of The Dragon" one of
Bruce's finest ballads, played on a accoustic guitar. Great! I recommend this
record to people who like melodical, heavy or just like music at all. Great
record. Everybody should own this.