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On June 17, 2003, Immortal broke up.
A date that, like December 13, 2001 (Chuck RIP), or December 8, 2004 (Dimebag RIP), will remain etched in the memory of metalheads from all over the world. These, tragically in the second and third cases, by the will of the members in the first, are the three distinct moments in which the career of three bands that have become true legends of the genre ends. But let's focus on Immortal, on Demonaz who after "Blizzard Beasts" is forced to abandon the guitar due to tendinitis, on their last work in 2002, and on the charge of icy violence that it manages to express.
Because as in previous works the basses are completely nullified, rendered almost non-existent, in favor of the sharp riffs and the dark voice of Abbath, with lyrics that recall the "Blashyrkh", a pale, dark, and wonderful nature. While Demonaz takes care of "only" the writing of the lyrics, and it is clearly evident. But there is a fundamental difference: this time the sound is a base of primordial black with perfect production, with several "extra" elements recalling death. A consistent and well-studied style, which proves capable of evolving, of looking beyond, towards something inconceivable, for them, until a few years earlier. But already with "Damned in black" they had shown what they could be capable of, and this album follows that line: the result is an simply unforgettable album.
We start with the ferocious "One by One", characterized by an extremely fast double bass tempo and a granite riffing typical of some forms of death: a track to be listened to several times, given the perfect "geometry" with which it is assembled. In "Tyrants" we find a devastating mid-tempo, followed by an arpeggiated part alternately with clean/distorted guitar, which vaguely brings to mind the famous past of our guys. "Within the dark mind" is perhaps the best of the album, in which I would highlight Abbath's incredible riffing work and Horgh's insane drum parts. Not to forget the lyrics: "At the works of my gods I glaze my heart to be The nature of dark Awake my soul to see My quest reverse the time... within the dark mind Strength in it I find... ". We are talking about the black-metal band probably among the most evocative and atmospheric, capable of combining "classic" double bass outbursts with a highly suggestive "sound climate": all this without atmospheric frills, but with the help of "only" their own instruments. And I'd like to pause for a moment on the unusually perfect production for the genre, in which the influences of various types of metal are massive.
All created to realize a "frozen" sound tapestry, a gloomy atmosphere capable of captivating the listener from the first listens. Despite some notes that are a bit hard to digest, but only because they are difficult to remember, I can say with certainty that this is a masterpiece of the genre. Also because the few non-immediate tracks are perfectly balanced by the presence of "easy to grasp" but never trivial executions like "Within the dark mind" or the splendid "Antarctica".
It was to be expected, from the creators of "At the heart of winter" and "Damned in black": a compact album, to be listened to all in one breath, without respite. A real pity that they are definitively disbanded.
Abbath (Olve Eikemo) - guitar, vocals (1990-2003)
Horgh (Reidar Horghagen) - drums (1996-2003)
Saroth (Yngve Liljebäck) - bass (2002-2003)
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Damned in Black (07:40)
March of the black
Dungeoned ones
Beyond the dim
They shape
March of the black
Dungeoned ones
Beyond the dim
They lurk
March of the black
Awakened beasts
Beyond the dim
They rage
Hordes of evil march
Until the end you fall
Drawn to the apocalypse
It is the age of ending
Damned in black
The ghastly rivers whirl
Swallowing all in sight
Come the vision we await
Into the blinding depths
And never to return...
Damned in black
March of the black
Dungeoned ones
Beyond the dim
They shape
March of the brave
Immortal gods
From beyond the dim
We rise...
03 One by One (05:40)
Aeons ago the legends tell we rode onward.
Led astray by the northern chaos gods.
Calm before the storm we came from the north..
Horses roamed in the open landscapes.
The scald sang to their kings.
Only he who battle wins.
The scald sang to their kings.
Let the battle be fought to be won.
Tremble with fear for the banner of our kings.
War now calls heed to the battle.
Hear our swords clinging in the wind.
Men cast from their saddles horses roar and scream.
Descendants of wrath and the kingdoms of fear..
The might we possess burn like fire.
The will remain in our northern hearts..
More scalps to be won - an eye for an eye.
Aeons ago the legends tell we rode onward.
Led astray by the northern chaos gods.
One by one by the northern tribe you fall.
One by one.. die by the strongest of them all.
Still theres only greatness sunged to those who fell.
Who battled strong to win these wars..
One by one we took your lives.
Grey mist swirl across the meadows..
Where battles once ruled the steps.
Where the ancient armours of bronce..
Are buried and corroded by time.
Strong where those who won the war..
And the legends tell only of wrath.
As brothers of the northern tribes..
They guarded the borders of chaos.
We leave these Battlefields ground...
Red where the rivers of blood.
Unforgotten by the ones...
Born of strenght and glory.
Tremble with fear for the banner of our kings.
War now calls heed to the battle.
Hear our swords clinging in the wind.
Men cast from their saddles horses roar and scream.
06 Solarfall (06:57)
Believe the sea high waves upon our coming storm
Hear the roaring tide as we name a dawn
See the ice in which we craft our souls
Earth's frozen cries the dark benight your kind
Monstruosly the seas rage afar as if to hide from that which nears
Skyward from the seasalt air our vision knew a giant fall
See the ice in which we craft our souls
Life's frozen cries the dark benight your kind
A place of utterness beyond the wilderness
Through a darkened terrain that fades in emptiness...
Walkers of the dust survivors of the blast
Slowly they move but far behind all time into the solar fall...
Believe the sea high waves upon our coming storm
Hear the roaring tide as we name a dawn
Monstruosly the seas rage afar as if to hide from that which nears
Skyward from the seasalt air our vision knew a giant fall
See the ice in which we craft our souls
All frozen cries the dark benight your kind
The last sunset flame dust of ice drifts the earth
Lightning plays in depths of no rebirth...
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