As far as I know, motherland of black metal is
Norway, so it seems a little strange, that band from USA plays such a great music. But when I discovered
Frost Like Ashes, I didn't care about it, because this album is my first meeting with black metal. I can't describe that horrible feelings, when the last track ended. I felt very extreme, scared and satisfied at same time.
And so do I every time I listen to this album. This is my favorite black metal release and I also think, that no album ever released in 'true black metal' is better than this one!
What I love most, is that this album isn't like many others in this genre. This isn't stupid parody to
Horde's Hellig Usvart. This album is really special one. I think main secrets are in guitar riffs. They are very raw, brutal and symphonic too. You can listen to A Cruel
Verse or
Lord Of Darkness, anyway all the riffs will not seem as normal black metal riffs, these riffs are on first string mainly and it moves to second and fourth string. Bass plays rougher riffs than guitars, maybe that's why these riffs are so emotional and melodic and same time.
I'm inspired by the drummer. This guy is really master in his work. He is outdoing many famous drummers in the world. Drumming is very, very fast. He does blast beats on snare and toms. Also he does his best, when he hits hi-hats and crushes. I mustn't forget about professionally done double-basses. Keyboards make great atmosphere. I don't know, does this atmosphere move me into church or somewhere else, but I feel that I'm somewhere special place, away from earthy misery! Vocals are really brutal. You can hear black metal rasps and death metal growls too. For example, in the song, Shattered Gods, main vocal is on growl, meanwhile in every other songs main vocal is rasp and growl only make songs kinda different.
I want to mark great drum solo in the song A Terrible Visitation. This solo starts on hi-hats, then double-basses enter (hi-hats continue to play), then most difficult, drummer plays same thing on snare and toms, while he keeps playing same on hi-hats and double-basses, and then, at last, he adds crushes, so every component of his drum kit sounds in this solo!
I hate when people call them 'unblack metal' band, this is just black metal, we mustn't change name to the genre just because it's lyrics. But, is this Christian band or not, this album is more brutal than albums by
Dimmu Borgir,
Gorgoroth,
Darkthrone and other satanic bands. If you don't care about lyrics, check this album out and you won't be disappointed!
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