Arum - Prelude To The Cataclysm

Arum
Prelude To The Cataclysm
Kill Zone Records
7/10



“Prelude To The Cataclysm” finds Arum plowing through five cuts of harshly melodic black metal like rabid wolves hunting prey across icy tundra. Bleak in nature and certainly unforgiving in intent, “Prelude To The Cataclysm” suffers during it’s more bombastic points from shallow production, but this aspect is true to the black metal blueprint and actually emboldens the canine attack.

“Lord Of Ancient Forest” seethes with true black metal aesthetics, as the band slashes away at staccato riffs complemented by distorted vocal manifestations. Showing texture with a befitting acoustic prelude to “Prometheus: Liberty And Desire,” Arum offers vicious blasts and a jazzy, head-spinning injection that shows they’re trying to separate themselves from the wolf pack.

Throw in a dirty-sounding, well-interpreted cover of Venom’s “Cry Wolf” and an interesting video clip for “Garden Of Lost Souls” and there’s enough value here for any forest-dwelling, foam-mouthed black metal fiend.


© 2005 ERIN FOX – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED