JUSTIN’N METAL REFIEWS W/C27/9/20

DIMMU BORGIR / ABRAHADABRA

This latest album by Dimmu Borgir is an absolutely fantastic, awe-inspiring, dark masterpiece that should be herd by every Metal fan, this is the pinnacle of Symphonic Black Metal and without doubt the pinnacle of the bands career so far!

The thing that stakes you immediately when listening to this CD is the brilliant Orchestral and Choral work that is not just an afterthought but an integral part of all the songs, just listen to the dark, majestic “Gateways” and try to imagine the song with out both and it just wouldn’t work, the same goes for the grandeur “ Dimmu Borgir” or the enthroned, darkness that is “The Ritualist”, this is Black Metal at its peak of perfection, even the mighty Emperor would have been proud of the spectacular album, words cannot aptly describe just how god this work is, you have to hear it for yourself.  I don’t see how any self respecting Metal can could listen to the spiritual black dimensions of “Chess In The Abyss” or the enthroned darkness of the final track “Endings And Conclusions” and not be totally blown away.

I don’t see how Dimmu Borgir can be ignored after this CD, even the “Hellraiser” inspired cover artwork is as good as the music within and makes you want to play it, I think this is going to be my album of the year in 2010, I cant see how this will be surpassed, anything else will just pale into insignificance beside it.  I cannot recommend this album too highly, you HAVE TO BUY THIS ALBUM, even if you don’t normally like Metal, you won’t be disappointed.

WEBSITE      http://www.dimmu-borgir.com & http://www.nuclearblast.de

TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 49 mins + 10 INSPIRED TRACKS

ABIGAIL WILLIAMS / IN THE ABSENCE OF LIGHT

If you like bands like Immortal, Dartkthrone and Mayhem and like your Black Metal relentless, unyielding and full of blistering darkness, with spine chilling, haunting melodies then you will simply love this new album from Abigail Williams.

The title of the CD says it all for me Absence Of Light in other words its full of heaviness, you only have to listen to stunning tracks like “An Echo In The Legends” or “In Death Comes The Great Silence” to realise that you in the presence of a great album.  The opening track “Final Destiny Of The Gods” is not for the feint hearted but if your prepared to really listen you will be rewarded by the sheer blackened bludgeoning riffs that come thick and fast, coupled with the vocals that sound like the screams of the damned you cant help but be totally blown away and the shorter “Infernal Divide” is just as good.

This album is a fine Black Metal album and would grace any true Metal fans collection, this is a far away from easy listening as you can get and I can whole heartedly recommend this fine CD, also listen out for: “The Mysteries That Bind The Flesh” and “Hope The Great Survival”.

WEBSITE      http://www.myspace.com/abigailwilliams

TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 50 mins + 8 TRACKS

THE CROWN / DOOMSDAY KING

2010 sees the return of Swedish legends the Crown and if you like spine crushing, neck braking Death Metal then you will take to this new CD like a duck to water and truly enjoy it for what it is.

To single out any track on this album would be  total nonsense, there is nothing new or groundbreaking on here, it has no dynamics, is totally devoid of any melody and not even a hint of commercialism and will not win any new fans and yet, true Death Metal fans will love this CD just for these very reasons.  All the tracks are as intense as a migraine headache and just as difficult to deal with if your not a fan, in fact a non Metal friend of mine called this a rucking racket and yes I can see what he means but then that’s what true Death Metal is about, no pretensions or posturing, just total, brutal honesty, blood and gore, realism at its peak, showing things as they truly are and accepting it at face value.

There is a limited edition digipack with a bonus disc with 4 extra tracks, just more of the same for those of us who cant get enough, long live True Death Metal and welcome back The Crown, who really are kings in their own right.

WEBSITE      http://www.myspace.com/thecrownonlineswe

TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 44 mins + 10 HONEST TRACKS