5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
KNEEL BEFORE THE GRAND DUKES OF HELL!!!!, February 11, 2002
This review is from: Verwuestung//Invoke the Dark Age (Audio CD)
Ah, yes, Verwustung. This debut CD from Abigor was highly hailed when it arrived in the underground as well it should be. Abigor are one of the most underrated bands in black metal..... let me rephrase that. People who know what's up know that Marduk and Dark Funeral, later Emperor and later Satyricon, and all that ... is ho-hum and boring (most of the time). (I won't even discuss gothic-bm poseur nonsense) If you scratch the surface of the underground a little bit beyond what Amazon and Tower Records tell you to buy, you'll find the truly proficient bands. Abigor's debut is wonderful and a seminal work in black metal history. Incredibly proficient song writing, remarkable unreptitive song structure. Very impassioned vocals, tight tight tight instrumentation. All the elements are there. Sometimes brutal, sometimes melodic, sometimes rocking, sometimes lush, no cheezy keyboards, no whining gothic pansies, true fire of rage and forests of hate.... Austrian venom!!! Thick guitars, good production for black metal, yet tuning still manages to capture menacing rocking rawness needed for bm guitars. Everything is weaved together flawlessly with tempo and harmony shifts and innovative ideas for both melodic lines and song progressions. Highly competent, which usually means not heavy or boring in bm (i.e Emperor after Nightside), but Abigor know what they're doing and lose no feeling of evil. Not as blistering as orkblut nor as sinister as Opus IV, Verwustung is still one of THE crowning achievements of black metal. (ps: avoid their "supreme immortal art," boring. First five release are great)
Note: This is one of those albums that might have to "sink in" with repeated listenings, as the song structures can be pretty complex and take a while to "get used to." If it sounds boring or bland, give it a while and you will eventually realize the genius that is this album. Again, NO PANSY KEYBOARDS... so stay away you wimpy goths... this is EVIL music, not weepy trend-poser wussiness... this has GUITARS and DRUMS!!! The music relies on SONG STRUCTURE and WELL WRITTEN RIFFS... understand???True METAL headz will definitely enjoy this. A must. (Though I must say, get Orkblut NOW NOW NOW!!!!)
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Classic Austrian Black Metal, July 5, 2008
This review is from: Verwuestung//Invoke the Dark Age (Audio CD)
This is without a doubt one of the best debut albums I've ever heard, and a key album in 90's black scene! Abigor do it better than most of their Norwegian/Swedish counterparts, by creating interesting, non repetitive music with their own sound. Highlights: All. Get it now!!
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Black F**king Metal!!, June 17, 2006
This review is from: Verwuestung//Invoke the Dark Age (Audio CD)
Abigor is the best Black Metal group to grace the 90's. If you listen to this genre of Metal, you need to own the first 4 Cd's. They are all essential BM master pieces. Verwustung is very Cold and Dark. The music is not repetitive or boring at all. Lot's of time changes and slower haunting passages to break up the ferocious speed. A simple sound with complex arrangements. The vocals are just plain sickening. I believe they come from Austria! Don't miss out on the first 4 releases.
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