Svartsyn - Timeless Reign
The Swedish black metalers, Svartsyn, have released "Timeless Reign" on Carnal Records. The band is made up one only two people, Draugen and Ornias, in the tradition of some of the best black metal acts around who have very few members; Darkthrone, Satyricon, Ildjarn, and of course the leader of the pack, Burzum. All these bands are Scandinavian, but I think Svartsyn is the only representative of their native Sweden in this particular list. There are of course all number of quality Swedish black metal bands, but in the down and dirty style of evil black metal, Svartsyn is certainly carrying a shield in the army.
"Timeless Reign" opens with slow, simple piano pings, something that Naglfar, also Swedish, does before they blast into forceful guitars and fast hitting drums. The drums, on the opening track, “Surth Lit The Earth,” break into a steady beast but the guitars, although very distorted, do build into a tune of riffing all throughout. The guitars are amazingly smooth for how heavy they are played, and the vocals are buried in the mix. They are not quiet, but they are coolly layered within the liquidy fast playing band. The album continues as such, right to the power track, “Birth Of Terror,” with fast-ass guitars that sound like they will not be caged, and some drums that work so well with controlling rhythm changes between the segments of the track where the band is playing all out, and the slower parts in which the guitars turn to a wall of distortion against which the drums splatter sound paint and etch blood all about. The same track changes rhythm again, something that makes me think of Satyricon’s ever changing rhythms, and the track claws at the door to be let back in again to rest just a few seconds for the absolute rev-up to the end.
"Timeless Reign" is a very good black metal album. It has all the growls one could want, the drums are pure black metal, and the guitars are nice. But in that smoothness is a certain lack of machetes chopping our ears, something I would want to hear. The guitars do remind me a bit too much of Naglfar, even though I am a fan. I would liked to have heard a little more pounding in the vein of something death metal like Cannibal Corpse or Cattle Decapitation to break up the polished sound because it is a bit too polished. Still a fine album and it will have many followers.
"Timeless Reign" opens with slow, simple piano pings, something that Naglfar, also Swedish, does before they blast into forceful guitars and fast hitting drums. The drums, on the opening track, “Surth Lit The Earth,” break into a steady beast but the guitars, although very distorted, do build into a tune of riffing all throughout. The guitars are amazingly smooth for how heavy they are played, and the vocals are buried in the mix. They are not quiet, but they are coolly layered within the liquidy fast playing band. The album continues as such, right to the power track, “Birth Of Terror,” with fast-ass guitars that sound like they will not be caged, and some drums that work so well with controlling rhythm changes between the segments of the track where the band is playing all out, and the slower parts in which the guitars turn to a wall of distortion against which the drums splatter sound paint and etch blood all about. The same track changes rhythm again, something that makes me think of Satyricon’s ever changing rhythms, and the track claws at the door to be let back in again to rest just a few seconds for the absolute rev-up to the end.
"Timeless Reign" is a very good black metal album. It has all the growls one could want, the drums are pure black metal, and the guitars are nice. But in that smoothness is a certain lack of machetes chopping our ears, something I would want to hear. The guitars do remind me a bit too much of Naglfar, even though I am a fan. I would liked to have heard a little more pounding in the vein of something death metal like Cannibal Corpse or Cattle Decapitation to break up the polished sound because it is a bit too polished. Still a fine album and it will have many followers.
1. Intro/Surth Lit The Earth
2. Tehom
3. Sanctus Satanas
4. My Sinner
5. Birth Of Terror
6. Spiritual Death
7. Timeless Reign
