Astaarth - Golden Age of a Dead Empire (2002)

Astaarth are yet another band whom I consider myself very attached to. It's part of a longer string of underground French black metal acts across which I came by accident, and my first contact with them was through this release - Golden Age of a Dead Empire. What's to be said about these lads, on the biographical side of things? They're from Dijon, they were born in 1996 and they sing about the rich Burgundian history and, subsequently, nationalism. Their style consists of black metal and has changed in time - this first album shows an affinity towards symphonic and atmospheric elements, while their second and last release, "Gloria Burgundia", is more filled with folk metal influences, especially with the use of some specific instruments (hurdy gurdy, flute, mouthharp, violin). While this second material is an enjoyable piece of music, I consider their first release to be their true masterpiece, since Golden Age of A Dead Empire is a great example of raw, symphonic, atmospheric black metal. It consists of 6 tracks, of which 2 are the intro and outro respectively, the rest of them ranging from 6 minutes and a half to over 13 minutes. Guitars are distorted and raw, just as it's meant to be, drums are fast, and the keyboards create a history-filled, dense atmosphere. All this is enhanced by the male speeches and the female chants, which really bring up the glory of times past, truly evoking the golden age of a dead empire... I recommend this album to anyone who enjoys raw, atmospheric black metal, anyone who wants to relive history and the secrets of the past with a touch of melancholy and despair to it. Score : 9 / 10.

Band :

 

Members :

Lord L. Moloch - vocals

Lord Gondebaud - all instruments

Album cover : 

Year : 2002

Genre : Atmospheric / Symphonic Black Metal

Tracklist :

1. Requiem to a forgotten splendour (Intro) - 03:09

2. To Die with a Sword in Hand - 11:39

3. Through the Candlelight - 08:56

4. La foy de Bourgogne - 06:37

5. Gold, Blood, Azur and Whithe - 13:26

6. The Final Crusade (Outro) - 02:25

Links :

 Last.fm

Encyclopaedia Metallum 

DOWNLOAD (Mediafire)

Argar - Cwm Annwn (2001)

Argar are a defunct band from Barcelona, Spain, which activated mostly in the late 90s - early 00s. Having released only 3 materials - one demo and two full-lengths, one might easily be mistaken into thinking that this is your typical, cliche-ridden trv, grim black metal band. This would be a horrendous mistake to make, since Argar, albeit a band with deep roots in the grim imagery of black metal bands, have a lot to offer, musically speaking. Their 2001 release, Cwm Annwn, represents one of the most atmospheric, gloomy and dark pieces of black metal I have ever listened to. Their tracks, far from being repetitive or boring, enthrall the listner through the dense atmosphere they envelop. The guitars are typical for low-fi black metal records - raw, and the vocals range from high pitched shrieks to typical black metal growls. They are most easily comparable to the early sounds of Emperor, although they have their own, unique sonority. The drums enhance the album's rapidity and fast rhythms, and the inspired use of keyboards creates a truly grim, solemn atmosphere in all of their songs. All in all, it's a great record really worth listening to. For me, it's honestly been one of the most pleasant surprises of the last months. Score: 8.5 / 10

Band :

Members :

 Darshan - bass
Black Et - drums
Gangreal - guitars, bass
Nocturnorz - keyboards
Ur Profanum - vocals

Album cover :

Year : 2001
Genre : Atmospheric / Symphonic Black metal


Tracklist :

1. Reborn in utterdarkness (part II) - 08:13

2. Millennium funerarium - 07:55

3. Bloodtears fall from heaven - 06:40

4. Twin of evil - 01:26

5. CWM ANNWN - 05:44

6. Blood Black in the funeral winds - 08:36

7. She, the lady of the abyss - 06:26

8. Travel to Kadath - 02:37

9. Pure Black Hate - 05:41

Total playing time - 53:18

Links:

Last.fm 

Encyclopaedia Metallum 

DOWNLOAD (Mediafire)