Lista de los grupos Black Metal A Transylvanian Funeral A Transylvanian Funeral

A Transylvanian Funeral
Self Released 20th March 2009 via Third Eye Audio

I’ve not had great experience in the past with USBM. A handful if bands such as Xasthur, Krieg and Nachtmystium have produced some great albums and then a parade of bands come out of the woodwork playing similar music but never quite on par.

I am happy to say however that ATF do not follow the typical USBM trend. They rather follow the raw grim approach of early Scandinavian bands still managing to apply their own special attack.

Onto the music, firstly I must get something off my chest. I am not and never will be a fan of programmed drums, however in some circumstances they are acceptable. Thankfully Sleepwalker, the main creating force behind ATF, has actually taken the time to program decent sounding and interesting drum tracks and a few songs in they are not something which I am concentrating on.

The album kicks of with a chantesque dual scream attack before blasting into the first track “We Shun the Light” which displays raw, fast aggressive black metal which reminds me of earlier Darkthrone blended with the ferocity of Marduk. Harsh and raw, but not thin sounding guitars, soar like firestorm blast amidst the frantic percussion and vocal attacks.

The album mostly follows this theme throughout which would normally lead to an uninteresting album but ATF have adopted subtleties throughout using brief keyboard highlights and dropping into more sombre and eerie moments which make this release stand out from the typical raw BM dross that suffocates the scene. I must also mention the track “Chthonic Possession” which is my personal favourite for its sheer grim violence and unrelenting blackness!

A few tracks in I am greeted with the track “Hammer of the Witch” which follows an old school death metal sound, barring the black production, followed by a Darkthrone style black doom break which provides a welcome contrast to the preceding fury before blasting back into sonic mayhem.

I little further on and the track “Lunacy” follows which is a great slab of sludgy black doom which truly makes you want to weep. Think glimpses of Nortt and Xasthur for sources of comparison although this feels more occult based than suicidal.

The occasional ounce of folk element is also present here and there for example on the track “Ways of the Magi” there is a definite, yet subtle, folk vibe going on which maintains the slight diversities that make this album special.

Throughout the album there are several small interludes which project scenes in the mind of solitude, grief, decay and death utilising some clean guitar parts and again keyboard highlights which add to the overall atmosphere of these parts.

Lyrically the album follows the fairly routine “no messing” anti-religious, occult and world demise themes and in their simplicity these complement the music perfectly providing an obvious vocal assault. The vocal attack throughout is mainly a dual voice between Sleepwalker and accomplice Sojourner with lower and higher rasps which provide an overall chant style approach providing a very occult feeling.

Onto the package, as this needs to be mentioned, what you are greeted with is more than just a CD. ATF have truly gone to every effort to provide a nice rare package which comes in a strictly limited edition of 100 copies in a DVD case complete with sticker, badge, lyric cards and a larger postcard all professionally printed.

Stand out tracks on this release are “We Shun the Light”, “Hammer of the Witch”, “Chthonic Possession” and “Ways of the Magi”.

I look forward to hearing more from this band in the future and will keep a close eye on new releases.

I do not like to give numerical ratings in reviews as what is one mans trash is another mans treasure. Therefore, if raw no compromise black metal is your poison then I would seriously recommend buying this release before it sells out. If you don’t like black metal then this is not for you. Simple!

Visit the bands MySpace for more information and to hear tracks from the album for yourself:

http://www.myspace.com/atransylvanianfuneral


Hailz
Lord Cadaver – 22nd April 2009