Tuesday, October 14, 2008

ENTHRONED - Xes Haereticum


ENTHRONED
Xes Haereticum
Napalm Records
7.5/10





Enthroned delivers a blasphemous blackened storm of blasting beats that cruise along like a launched warhead. Their sinister brand of black metal is powered by a diabolical aura that is truly their own as the group issues a scathing, hate-filled attack on the unrelenting opener “Crimson Legions”.

Their overall sound stems from the purest type of blasting black metal, as Enthroned hit mach speed on “Dance Of A Thousand Knives”; it’s obvious that they are deadly serious about summoning total sonic annihilation. With so many different bands carrying the black metal banner these days, it can be difficult to be distinguished from the vast legions of demonic hordes issuing material of this type, but rest assured that the material you will hear on “Xes Haereticum” (figure it out) are of the truest nature.

Ferocity is redefined within these ten tracks, with the band blasting their way through tracks like “Blacker Than Black” and “Vortex Of Confusion” without remorse nor mercy. Punishing walls of guitars meld with subsonic, blazing rhythms in order to form a united front of pure evil on “Daemon’s Claw”. Some may be put off by the harshness of Enthroned’s sound initially, but once you gain a familiarity with the group’s style, the production style makes a lot of sense.

In the end, this is a good example of exactly what a black metal band should be in all contexts. A strong effort.


ERIN FOX © 2005 - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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