Sons Of Northern Darkness CD

Art. Nr.:
51144
Release: 04.02.2002
€18.99
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Band IMMORTAL
Release Date Feb 4, 2002
Genre Black Metal
Packaging Jewelcase

Description

Jewelcase CD

In last 11 years, Immortal, from the Norwegian town Bergen, established themselves as one of the most important black metal bands in the world. The last original member Abbath (Doom Occulta) is one of the most charismatic frontmen in this genre, as their live shows are legendary.

The story of Immortal started back in 1991. Abbath (a former Old Funeral member) and Demonaz (ex-Amputation) decided to start a new band together to play cold and icy black metal. Skins, spikes and corpsepaint – that was their modus operandi. Musically they were influenced by Bathory, which you can hear on their first demo and the debut album Diabolic Fullmoon Mysticism (1992, Osmose Productions). This and the influence of Venom and Slayer was no secret to the fans.

Immortal was mainly Abbath (vocals, bass) and Demonaz (guitar) in the first couple of years. The drummer changed often (Armagedda, Eric, Hellhammer from Mayhem), and sometimes Abbath himself sat behind the kit, as on Pure Holocoust (1993) and Battles In the North (1995). The icy, frosty, fast and catchy sound and the fantasy lyrics about an icy place called Blashyrk established the band, and they had a lot of followers at this time. They were the most well known black metal band.

1995 saw their first big European tour, as special guest with Morbid Angel (Hellhammer from Mayhem played the drums). Their popularity grew and grew, but then Demonaz had to quit the band, because he had massive problems with some nerves in his hand. He wasn’t able to play guitar anymore. First Ares of the Norwegian band Aeternus helped Immortal out on bass while Abbath changed to guitar, but later on they found another permanent line-up which still exists today: Abbath (guitar, vocals), Horgh (drums) and Iscariah (bass). Demonaz is still is part of Immortal, because he still writes all the lyrics and is the manager of the band.

With this line-up they released two brilliant records: At the Heart of Winter and Damned in Black. Both records received incredible reviews worldwide. Also, magazines, which were not so friendly to the band in the past, gave them good support and reacted very euphoric. Damned In Black sold more than 100,000 copies worldwide, which is a fantastic number for an extreme band like Immortal, a band which always stayed true to themselves and never used keyboards or female vocals to get attention in the gothic scene.

Damned In Black was their last album for Osmose Productions, and they changed over to Nuclear Blast Records. In September 2001, they entered the famous Abyss Studios with Peter Tägtgren (Hypocrisy, Pain) where they also recorded the last two albums. Sons of Northern Darkness is the next step to bringing the band into eternity. (Retract)

Abbath, Horgh and Iscariah haunt our realms one more time with Immortal's 7th vintage, Sons of Northern Darkness. Freshly posted on the Nuclear Blast roster and produced for the 3rd time by Peter Tägtgren, the release is simply a pure piece of demonic art. Lead by Abbath, with Demonaz in the background, the band delivers us a magnificent, angry black metal that shakes the entire soul. Since the release of Blizzard Beasts in 1997, the band worked to heavily introduce melodic parts in its compositions without altering their essence. Still full of anger, rage and grimness with a certain amount of coldness and gloominess, some of the tracks of the album stand out for their particular dark connotation, namely 'Within the Dark Mind', also for their quite unusual tempo, slow for a band like Immortal, 'Tyrants' and 'Beyond the North Waves'. The fans will, nevertheless, fall in hate with these masterpieces that reflect, more than ever, the identity of Immortal. Musically, the three warriors of the North are at the top of their performance, backed by Demonaz, still the lyricist, and Peter Tägtgren, who's beyond any introduction. The tight cooperation between Abbath and Horgh result in a perfect harmony between the thundering guitar riffs and the incredible drum play. Sons of Northern Darkness is, in my opinion, Immortal#s most complete work of art that surpasses Damned in Black and is in a good position to become their best album ever. Already a black metal classic style, Immortal's music is the band’s reflection of its eternal quest to find itself and to stand as the uncontestable leader of the scandinavian black metal scene. Black flags are floating over the hills of Norway, ravens imperially spread their wings, Immortal are back At the Heart of Winter...

TRACKLIST

1. One by One
2. Sons of Northern Darkness
3. Tyrants
4. Demonium
5. Within the Dark Mind
6. In My Kingdom Cold
7. Antarctica
8. Beyond the North Waves