Rock
Chi | Washington, DC | 04/17/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"god needs a new rock to hide undergorgoroth are the legends, the apocalypsedefiled"
Weird Mannheim? Weird Gorgoroth!
Michael E. Mitchell | Northern Wastelands of Wisconsin | 06/16/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is much more straight ahead than "Destroyer", so perhaps not quite as enjoyable, but it is still crushingly destructive. There are some actual THRASH riffs in here, and a lot of nuances that are enjoyed after repeated listenings. If by accident, any fan of Korny or Limp Wristed reads, you should do yourself a favour and check this out as an introduction of what power TRUE metal can wield! Of course, it would probably make you cry(and you can't understand them when they swear...and that's important to you, we TRUE metal people know!) There IS one waste of 5 minutes on the album, though: the pseudo-instrumental 7th track...but use that as a breather before the"crooning" black metal attack of "When Love Rages Wild in My Heart"(not as ridiculous as it sounds!) Production is a constant thickness throughout, and as far as I can tell, Gaahl does all the vocals on this one(as opposed to the variety of productions and vocalists in the past). Will not disappoint any existing fans, and just may convert some of the non-believers!"
One of the best in black metal.
P. Walczak | 06/20/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This Gorgoroth release is truly one of a kind. After hearing Twilight of the Idols, I honestly didn't expect much more than a mediocre release...but I definitely stand corrected on this one. This LP is loaded with constantly differing and original guitar riffs, industrial-type sound effects that give some of the songs a bit more emphasis, about the best and most intense vocalization of any other black metal band, and some great, eerie, and haunting melodies that are filled with utter creativity.
Track listings:
Incipit Satan- An amazing opener. Jam packed with originality and heavy guitar riffs. This song also features some of Gorgoroth's experimentation with industrial type sounds and ambience that is so often associated with this CD. Without a doubt, this song will take a firm grip on you and refuse to let go until it ends.
A World To Win- Begins with an interesting industrial effect that sounds as though it came straight out of a videogame (something only Gorgoroth would be able to pull off). This song also offers a great choral guitar riff that is surprisingly mellow for having come out of a black metal LP. Overall, it sounds great though.
Titani Til Satan- Features some great instrumentals, but the vocal layout lacks a bit, considering Gaahl only speaks in an awkwardly deep voice the whole song through.
Unchain My Heart!!!- Begins with a great melody that gives the listener a taste of haunting ambience. Not too long after, though, it picks right up and soars into an incredible arrangement of instrumental brutality and creativity, leaving the listener to experience its every unique twist and turn. Definitely a favorite.
An Excerpt Of X- This track is a bit too empty for my taste. It's mostly instrumental, with the exception of a few spoken lines, and doesn't really capture the listener's attention too much.
Ein Ein Au Blod Og Helvetesild- In its beginning moments, this track proposes some great drumming and guitar management, immediately picking up about 50 or so seconds in, therein presenting the listener with the intensity of Gaahl's demonic screams. Just before the end, Gorgoroth seems to layer the vocal screams so that the song draws its end in a whirlwind of chaos and malice. Overall, a pretty good song that gets your heart pumping.
Will To Power- More of an oddity than anything else, in my opinion. This track gives the listener some nice atmospheric ambience to listen to, but nothing more. No true vocals are featured- just distant spoken words in the background.
When Love Rages Wild In My Heart- Demonstrates some more good guitar riffs and reveals the eerie -almost vampiric- vocals of an unknown vocalist. Good song, overall.
In all, this album is a really good black metal release. The only complaint I have with it is that Gorgoroth, while seeming to focus a bit too much on experimentation, failed to give some of the songs the attention that they most likely need in order to become truly magnificent. Nevertheless, this is definitely worth picking up.
"
Track Listings (8) - Disc #1
