Abbath - S/T

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Everyone’s favorite Black Metal hero is back in Black!

Thinks get messy with bands, it’s happened before and it will happen again. It seems Immortal have gone through the same scenario as Gorgoroth and Queensryche did a few years back where the band a splintered and two parties are fighting over the name. All gossip aside main songwriter and face of Immortal Abbath has returned with King ov Hell (Gorgoroth, God Seed) and young upcoming drummer Kevin Foley and has churned out his first solo album.

It’s been said by many that he has carried on where Immortal has left off, and only the name on the album cover has changed, while I don’t totally disagree I think it sells the album short slightly. With a personality and a voice like Abbath anything he does is automatically going to be associated with the band he came from but with the similarities of Immortal it feels like the Black Metal legend is enjoying a bit of freedom on this release.

Abbath is doing what he does best!!!, but he is also not restricted by the name. The album has a fresh feel to it, and Abbath has taken his creative gloves off so to speak. The best analogy I can think of is Ozzy Osbourne’s 'Blizzard of Ozz'. You had the familiarity but it was clearly something new...  bottom line it’s a scorcher!.

'Winter’s Bane' breaks half way through and goes into this awesome section that brings to mind Celtic Frost. You have the obvious blasts and shreds that you come to expect and then you get a track like 'Root of the Mountain' which is a slow burner that builds up and has a doom feel that captures that winter feeling and has a wonderful melody during the chorus and the album ends with the blast fest that is 'Eternal' which brings the album to a Earth shattering finish.

What’s great about this album and the main thing you need to know is that as much as this is a Black Metal album it fun! It’s a blast to listen to, it’s full headbanging moments. As much as all the Black Metal elements are present it feels just as much you are listening to classic Judas Priest or even AC/DC.. Keep it in mind... I said it feels like, but does not sounds like this. This is fourty minutes of Abbath in full force and shedding any shackles of the past. Just as Tom Fischer did with Triptykon.  It marks a new chapter and is a strong addition to his whole body of work.

Review by Joe Denby

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Check Out! a live performance Video for 'Warriors' Below...