Obscure Abhorrence Productions (2012)

Look to the north of Norway. And the name of the game is black metal. Just that. Black metal!

In a scene where you are either a) occult, progressive and innovative or b) underground sounding extremity because you don't know how to get a decent sound, it's somewhat refreshing to listen to a band that is not occult (judging from the lyrics), progressive or innovative, nor is it underground sounding. In fact the sound is strong and clear, yet those guitars feel like chainsaws cutting through your ice-cold veins on every possible occasion.

Taakeferd from Tromsø, Norway, is not here to reinvent the wheel. "Når Sirkelen Brytes" is black metal. Just that. Black metal! The music ranges between the traditional fast riffing and the midpaced parts. And that's basically it. For the first ten spins. Then you begin to discover the melodies that in fact float behind the wall of sound and the album's longevity increases further.

On top of the music there's a razorsharp vocal that hits every comfortable nerve. The vocalist that comes closest to the one of Svult Augustus is Gaahl in his premium days. The same insanity. The same wild hate.

Taakeferd presents Norwegian black metal and if you're a fan of the genre this is a safe purchase. Lack of originality, yes, but full of confidence, hate and energy. "Når Sirkelen Brytes" is one of the album that makes me realize that I simply love the genre and that you don't have to break traditional patterns to be great.

www.taakeferd.com
www.obscure-abhorrence.com

Rating: 5 / 6

Composed by Roy Kristensen