5.0 out of 5 stars
A Black-Metal Gem, May 24, 2009
This review is from: Black Faith Inquisition (Audio CD)
Though this may not be the same experience for all you metalheads out there, to me, the entire genre in black metal is an exercise of sorting through an awful lot of chaff to get to any wheat. Half the time, even for bands I like, I don't like them the first time I hear them.
It is this difficulty, I think, that separates black metal from all other kinds of metal. Generally, you have to set aside all of your notions to really get into what the bands are trying to accomplish with their music. You can argue that the self-struggle that most BM bands adhere to forces its own ethos into the music, and you have to fight it to listen to it--you can't be a passive listener. This isn't much the case with some of the most popular bands in the genre, such as Enslaved or Emperor.
Black Faith Inquisition follows a similar path to many BM bands, and quite easily sounds the most like Emperor or early Enslaved than any band I've recently listened to.
The first track is a slow dirge spoken in another language, that reminds me most closely of Arckanum. But after that intro track, the gloves come off and you're treated to one of the most melodic BM songs in recent memory. The vocals remind me directly of Grutle from Enslaved.
All of the songs outside of intro/outro are near ten-minute magnum opuses that I can get lost in. They are open and have alot of changes and dynamics. Describing the songs here won't do any justice, just go look up the lyrics and know that the songs always mold to what is being said...
Guitars are mostly traditional speedy tremolo, but the melodies achieved make up for the often simplistic picking method. Don't expect alot of speedy solos, but expect the two guitars to work together for some brilliant and dynamic melodies. Metal fans of any stripe should be happy with this album!
Cons: I have tried really hard to find something, anything I can really criticize on this album... but it is probably one of the most straightforwardly good Black Metal Records I've ever listened to. Go do yourselves a justice...
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