06 April 2010

3/30/10

Veles' ScrollsNokturnal MortumGoat HornsMar 30, 2010 at 12:50 AM
Awaiting The DawnPrimordialImramaMar 30, 2010 at 12:44 AM
Beneath A Bronze SkyPrimordialImramaMar 30, 2010 at 12:40 AM
To The Ends Of The EarthPrimordialImramaMar 30, 2010 at 12:35 AM
Let The Sun Set On Life ForeverPrimordialImramaMar 30, 2010 at 12:30 AM
MealltachPrimordialImramaMar 30, 2010 at 12:29 AM
The Giant's LaughterThyrfingVansinnesvisorMar 30, 2010 at 12:22 AM
HavenlessEnslavedBelow The LightsMar 30, 2010 at 12:16 AM
ReuzenmachtHeidevolkUit Oude GrondMar 30, 2010 at 12:11 AM
Morning SunSavatageThe Wake Of MagellanMar 30, 2010 at 12:05 AM
Ceremony Of OppositesSamaelExodusMar 30, 2010 at 12:00 AM
Du Nordavind RerecordingArcturusDisguised MastersMar 29, 2010 at 11:55 PM
Pyramid TextsSenmuthDeadbook IMar 29, 2010 at 11:36 PM
The Old House On The HillCarpathian ForestDefending The Throne Of EvilMar 29, 2010 at 11:33 PM
The FiresPrimordialImramaMar 29, 2010 at 11:26 PM
The Darkest FlamePrimordialImramaMar 29, 2010 at 11:21 PM
Here I Am KingPrimordialImramaMar 29, 2010 at 11:10 PM
Infernal SummerPrimordialImramaMar 29, 2010 at 11:10 PM
Fuil ArsaPrimordialImramaMar 29, 2010 at 11:05 PM
Mont Blanc Providence CrowSolefaldIn Harmonia UniversaliMar 29, 2010 at 10:58 PM

29 March 2010

3/23/10

Sun's First RaysPrimordialStorm Before CalmMar 23, 2010 at 12:54 AM
Cast To The PyrePrimordialStorm Before CalmMar 23, 2010 at 12:45 AM
Fallen To RuinPrimordialStorm Before CalmMar 23, 2010 at 12:35 AM
The Heretic's AgePrimordialStorm Before CalmMar 23, 2010 at 12:30 AM
DrapFinntrollNifelvindMar 23, 2010 at 12:22 AM
NehalenniaHeidevolkUit Oude GrondMar 23, 2010 at 12:17 AM
Naturens GalleriVintersorgCosmic GenesisMar 23, 2010 at 12:11 AM
Ars MemoravitaVintersorgCosmic GenesisMar 23, 2010 at 12:06 AM
Twilight Of The Thunder GodSlaughter Of The BlugrassSlaughter Of The BlugrassMar 23, 2010 at 12:02 AM
GalgasangFinntrollNifelvindMar 22, 2010 at 11:58 PM
Stella WinSenmuthSekenenraMar 22, 2010 at 11:45 PM
Choir Kaem UasetSenmuthSekenenraMar 22, 2010 at 11:30 PM
Sekenenra Tao IISenmuthSekenenraMar 22, 2010 at 11:30 PM
Under The Banner Of TetisheriSenmuthSekenenraMar 22, 2010 at 11:15 PM
Hqa XAwstSenmuthSekenenraMar 22, 2010 at 11:12 PM
Divination HemheprySenmuthSekenenraMar 22, 2010 at 11:06 PM
Release MeRotting ChristGenesisMar 22, 2010 at 11:01 PM

23 March 2010

Damn it

I said I'd update this more often, didn't I? Well, tonight's playlist will be up upon its conclusion but in the meanwhile, here's a review for Thyrfing's "Farsotstider" that I wrote over summer:


“Farsotstider” translates to “times of plague”, and such a title couldn’t be more appropriate for Thyrfing’s fourth release. There’s a decidedly dark atmosphere on this album-one that’s sinister, unrestrained and chaotic, calling to mind such a plague that strikes at random and kills without warning, a chaotic evil rather than a calculated one. Such a tone comes as a marked change from Thyrfing’s earlier works of Viking glory and bombast, and one would be led at first to think that they’re yet another traditionally “upbeat” band releasing their “heaviest and darkest yet”™ to garner support from a less exuberant-minded crowd-After all, they already started this sound on the preceding album Vansinnesvisor. But the attempts at this new sound are not slapdash-they fucking nail it. Indeed, Vansinnesvisor is often hailed as Thyrfing’s masterpiece, as the changes in style and substance were most dramatic when compared to their earlier work. While Farsotstider doesn’t have as drastic of a change, one shouldn’t be quick to write it off, as the atmosphere and emotion here are so meticulously crafted that it easily outdoes its comparably tame predecessor.

Such a pretentious and wordy buildup should damn well merit a deserving album, and Farsotstider lives up to it. The album opens with a lot of piss and vinegar, starting with the deliciously unsubtle “Far åt Helvete” (meaning “Go to Hell!”) As if that title alone wasn’t enough to convince us that the days of Valhalla-this and Asgard-that were over, lead singer Thomas Väänänen’s maniacal shriek at the song’s intro dispels any further traces of the band’s musical past. His vocals alone are one of the most surprising and enjoyable things about this album-while Vansinnesvior’s yells and shrieks marked a change in his singing from the growly rasps of the past, Farsotstider showcases him sounding absolutely psychotic. Every word is spewed (and honestly, this is one of the few times when a singer actually merits the word “spewed”) out in a sharp, heavy performance that’s very memorable. The instruments shortly follow suit-there’s a discordant riff at the beginning of “Jag Spår Fördärv” and some bombastic, staccato strings that open the title track.

After having the maniacally demented vibe sealed into place with these three, I was ready on first listen of Farsotstider for the remaining album to be equally visceral. But “Höst”, “Själavrak”, and “Elddagjämning” threw me for a loop, as they’re slower-paced and more forlorn than the abrasive openers. They even sounded somewhat plain at first, and I was about to write off the album as only halfway-successful. But repeated listens eventually bought a different view into place: These songs are not the “crazy evil” type I’ve been rambling about so far, but speak more of a sorrowful, tragedy-spawned madness-Bringing images of someone who’s sanity and goodwill have fled from the ravages of the plague rather than the plague itself. (Thomas’ mournful screams on the chorus of “Höst” are possibly the best example.) It’s these dueling emotions that make Farsotstider such a satisfying album, as they show the band not willing to sit on their laurels after having mastered just one type of atmosphere.

And atmospheric it is. The other thing I didn’t catch on my first several listens was just how wide and intricate a variety of keyboards have been spread about. They’re certainly easy to miss at first glance, seeing how as they’re not carrying the melody and blasting in your face like they were on Valdr Galga. The subtlety of the keys certainly makes for a striking dichotomy with the bluntness of the guitars and vocals. Yet they always spring up at the right moment-for instance, the strings creating a climax at 1:13 in “Höst”, and a bombastic marching tune at the opening of “Själavrak.” Yet they don’t work alone-other instruments pop up from time to time, like a melancholic dueling piano/accordion melody at the end of “Elddagjämning.” Thankfully, Thyrfing doesn’t fall prey to the “buried guitars” that so many of their peers do, remaining high in the mix and ripping out with some rather unusual-sounding riffs-after the chorus of “Höst” and towards the end of “Själavrak”, to name a few. Truth be told, one of the album’s few faults lies in the guitars-there are some times during songs where they’ll sort of amble around aimlessly during a bridge between a more intense or atmospheric passage, although such occurrences are relatively infrequent. The other problem being that despite the constant instrumental innovativeness, the songs themselves are all slightly above mid-tempo in speed, and thus at times seem just a touch repetitive in structure. Such concerns, however, remain minor when viewing the album as a whole.

“Baldersbålet” and “Tiden Läker Intet” bring back the aggression and madness for a solid ending, the latter being my favorite as it blends the best of all the previously ranted-about emotions into one climactic offering. The pounding strings (backed by one of the faster drum lines in the album) at the beginning sound downright malicious, and there’s a cool “fade-out/fade-in” between two melodies at the end. The last thirty seconds have an ominous tremolo sound, as if saying “it’s not done yet…”

I’m sure my wordiness has almost worn out its welcome, so I’ll leave the conclusion straight and to-the-point. Farsotstider is an incredibly complex and varied album, with a dark atmosphere and enough innovations and randomness to show that Thyrfing wasn’t just messing around with Vansinnesvisor. Pardon the hokeyness, but this is one plague you’ll want to catch.

09 February 2010

Show ???

Bloody hell, it's been a while. Guess you could say I got lazy for the second half of last semester. However! The new time slot seems to be bringing quite a few new viewers, so I figured it was time I got my arse back into gear and began posting again. Expect some cool new features (reviews, interviews, and such) in the near future-in the meanwhile, here's this morning's playlist...

StjerneheimenEnslavedMardraum Beyond The WithinFeb 9, 2010 at 12:52 AM
Krigaren Eg Ikkje KjendeEnslavedMardraum Beyond The WithinFeb 9, 2010 at 12:46 AM
Ormgard I Kvalt I Kysk HogsongEnslavedMardraum Beyond The WithinFeb 9, 2010 at 12:41 AM
MardraumEnslavedMardraum Beyond The WithinFeb 9, 2010 at 12:38 AM
Aeges DraumEnslavedMardraum Beyond The WithinFeb 9, 2010 at 12:33 AM
NecrodysseySolefaldBlack For DeathFeb 9, 2010 at 12:27 AM
A Dialogue With The StarsVintersorgCosmic GenesisFeb 9, 2010 at 12:22 AM
ThunderforgeSkyforgerThunderforgeFeb 9, 2010 at 12:17 AM
Wodan HeerstHeidevolkWalhalla WachtFeb 9, 2010 at 12:09 AM
En Maktig HarFinntrollUr Jordens DjupFeb 9, 2010 at 12:05 AM
The Second Key Of A Harmonious Component SoundSenmuthLight Sound Sacral Geometry EnergyFeb 8, 2010 at 11:51 PM
Khas Koo Ahn Energy Of Galactic FamilySenmuthLight Sound Sacral Geometry EnergyFeb 8, 2010 at 11:47 PM
Kha Ahn Energy Of A Personal Spiritual WaySenmuthLight Sound Sacral Geometry EnergyFeb 8, 2010 at 11:43 PM
The First Key Of A Harmonious Component LightSenmuthLight Sound Sacral Geometry EnergyFeb 8, 2010 at 11:34 PM
OrmgardEnslavedMardraum Beyond The WithinFeb 8, 2010 at 11:26 PM
EntranceEscapeEnslavedMardraum Beyond The WithinFeb 8, 2010 at 11:18 PM
DaudningekvidaEnslavedMardraum Beyond The WithinFeb 8, 2010 at 11:15 PM
Storre Enn TidEnslavedMardraum Beyond The WithinFeb 8, 2010 at 11:07 PM
Astray Within The Coffinwood MillDiabolical MasqueradeThe Phantom LodgeFeb 8, 2010 at 11:02 PM

20 October 2009

Show 5

Queen Of Winter ThronedCradle Of FilthVempireOct 20, 2009 at 2:51 AM
Metal Stricken Terror ActionAborymKali Yuga BizzareOct 20, 2009 at 2:46 AM
Midnight SunriseTurisasBattle MetalOct 20, 2009 at 2:39 AM
Torsteins KvaediTyrRagnarokOct 20, 2009 at 2:36 AM
The Wand Of AbarisTherionLive GothicOct 20, 2009 at 2:26 AM
I Am The Black WizardsEmperorIn The Nightside EclipseOct 20, 2009 at 2:26 AM
VredesvyrdDimmu BorgirDeath Cult ArmaggedonOct 20, 2009 at 2:15 AM
The Eerie Obzidian CircuzDiabolical MasqueradeNightworkOct 20, 2009 at 2:09 AM
Hibernation Sickness CompleteArcturusSideshow SymphoniesOct 20, 2009 at 2:05 AM
Liber Omega And The Macrocosm ManifestArthemesiaAOa Alpha Omega AlphaOct 20, 2009 at 1:53 AM
The Noble ElementsArthemesiaAOa Alpha Omega AlphaOct 20, 2009 at 1:42 AM
AOaArthemesiaAOa Alpha Omega AlphaOct 20, 2009 at 1:35 AM
PathemeArthemesiaAOa Alpha Omega AlphaOct 20, 2009 at 1:20 AM
Valkoinen SusiArthemesiaAOa Alpha Omega AlphaOct 20, 2009 at 1:12 AM
Of The Sound Of NatureArthemesiaAOa Alpha Omega AlphaOct 20, 2009 at 1:11 AM
Love The Death As The LifeAborymFire Walk With UsOct 20, 2009 at 1:02 AM

13 October 2009

Show 4

Het Bier Zal Weer Vloeien
Heidevolk
Der Strijdlust Is Geboren
Oct 13, 2009 at 2:59 AM
Cordelia
Senmuth
Planetary Dust
Oct 13, 2009 at 2:51 AM
Titan
Senmuth
Planetary Dust
Oct 13, 2009 at 2:48 AM
Saturn
Senmuth
Planetary Dust
Oct 13, 2009 at 2:40 AM
Jupiter
Senmuth
Planetary Dust
Oct 13, 2009 at 2:32 AM
Amalthea
Senmuth
Planetary Dust
Oct 13, 2009 at 2:30 AM
Empire Falls
Primordial
To The Nameless Dead
Oct 13, 2009 at 2:19 AM
Black Hole
Samael
Above
Oct 13, 2009 at 2:16 AM
The Genuine Pulse
Borknagar
Empiricism
Oct 13, 2009 at 2:11 AM
Virus Bomb
Anaal Nathrakh
Hell Is Empty And All The Devils Are Here
Oct 13, 2009 at 2:08 AM
Whence And Whither Goes The Wind
Arcturus
Aspera Hymns Symfonia
Oct 13, 2009 at 2:00 AM
Shackled To The Trilithon Of Kutulu
BalSagoth
The Chthonic Chronicles
Oct 13, 2009 at 1:57 AM
Kipumylly
Korpiklaani
Korven Kuningas
Oct 13, 2009 at 1:52 AM
Vakirauta
Korpiklaani
Tales Along This Road
Oct 13, 2009 at 1:50 AM
Bring Us Pints Of Beer
Korpiklaani
Karkelo
Oct 13, 2009 at 1:47 AM
Completion Of Science In Agony Part II Of II
Mayhem
The Grand Declaration Of War
Oct 13, 2009 at 1:45 AM
To Daimonion Part III Of III
Mayhem
The Grand Declaration Of War
Oct 13, 2009 at 1:45 AM
To Daimonion Part II Of III
Mayhem
The Grand Declaration Of War
Oct 13, 2009 at 1:44 AM
To Daimonion Part I Of II
Mayhem
The Grand Declaration Of War
Oct 13, 2009 at 1:41 AM
Completion In Science Of Agony Part I Of II
Mayhem
The Grand Declaration Of War
Oct 13, 2009 at 1:28 AM
Crystallized Pain In Deconstruction
Mayhem
The Grand Declaration Of War
Oct 13, 2009 at 1:24 AM
A Bloodsword And A Colder Sun Part II Of II
Mayhem
The Grand Declaration Of War
Oct 13, 2009 at 1:23 AM
A Bloodsword And A Colder Sun Part I Of II
Mayhem
The Grand Declaration Of War
Oct 13, 2009 at 1:18 AM
View From Nihil Part II Of II
Mayhem
The Grand Declaration Of War
Oct 13, 2009 at 1:17 AM
View From Nihil Part I Of II
Mayhem
The Grand Declaration Of War
Oct 13, 2009 at 1:14 AM
A Time To Die
Mayhem
The Grand Declaration Of War
Oct 13, 2009 at 1:12 AM
In The Lies Upon Where You Lay
Mayhem
The Grand Declaration Of War
Oct 13, 2009 at 1:06 AM
The Grand Declaration Of War
Mayhem
The Grand Declaration Of War
Oct 13, 2009 at 1:05 AM
Wehrmacht Kali Ma
Aborym
Kali Yuga Bizzare
Oct 13, 2009 at 12:58 AM

06 October 2009

Show 3

Song

Artist

Album

Date Played

Het Wilde HeerHeidevolkWalhalla WachtOct 6, 2009 at 2:57 AM
Wallhala WachtHeidevolkWalhalla WachtOct 6, 2009 at 2:51 AM
Koning RadboundHeidevolkWalhalla WachtOct 6, 2009 at 2:47 AM
SaksenlandHeidevolkWalhalla WachtOct 6, 2009 at 2:42 AM
Sky Is MineAmorphisSkyforgerOct 6, 2009 at 2:37 AM
From The Heaven Of My HeartAmorphisSkyforgerOct 6, 2009 at 2:32 AM
Silver BrideAmorphisSkyforgerOct 6, 2009 at 2:25 AM
SampoAmorphisSkyforgerOct 6, 2009 at 2:17 AM
Samaveta AsuraSenmuthKaaraNaOct 6, 2009 at 2:14 AM
AhamkaraSenmuthKaaraNaOct 6, 2009 at 2:08 AM
VasayatiSenmuthKaaraNaOct 6, 2009 at 2:05 AM
Procession Of The Dead ClownsBlut Aus NordThe Work Which Transforms GodOct 6, 2009 at 1:53 AM
DensityBlut Aus NordThe Work Which Transforms GodOct 6, 2009 at 1:53 AM
Inner Mental CageBlut Aus NordThe Work Which Transforms GodOct 6, 2009 at 1:50 AM
The Howling Of GodBlut Aus NordThe Work Which Transforms GodOct 6, 2009 at 1:42 AM
Devilish EssenceBlut Aus NordThe Work Which Transforms GodOct 6, 2009 at 1:42 AM
Our Blessed Frozen CellsBlut Aus NordThe Work Which Transforms GodOct 6, 2009 at 1:35 AM
The Supreme AbstractBlut Aus NordThe Work Which Transforms GodOct 6, 2009 at 1:31 AM
MetamorphosisBlut Aus NordThe Work Which Transforms GodOct 6, 2009 at 1:23 AM
The FallBlut Aus NordThe Work Which Transforms GodOct 6, 2009 at 1:22 AM
AxisBlut Aus NordThe Work Which Transforms GodOct 6, 2009 at 1:20 AM