Black Altar/Kirkebrann/Deus Inversus/Odium Records/2020 Split CD Review

  This  is  a  review  of  a  split  album  between  Poland's  Black  Altar  and  Norway's  Kirkebrann  called  "Deus  Inversus"  which  will  be  released  on  June  30th  by  Odium  records  and  we  will  start  off  the  review  with  Black  Altar  who  returns  with  their  satanic  style  of  black  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  off  with  a  very  dark  and  ritualistic  sound  along  with  a  brief  use  of  evil  sounding  chants  before  going  into  a  very  fast,  raw  and  melodic  musical  direction which  also  uses  a  great  amount  of  tremolo  picking  and  blast  beats.  All  of  the  musical  instruments  also  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Vocals  are  mostly  high  pitched  black  metal  screams  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts. Choir  vocals  can  also  be  heard  briefly  as  well  as  the  guitar  solos  and  leads  being  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style.  At  times  the  vocals  also  bring  in  more  of  deep  yet  aggressive  approach  and  all  of  the  songs  also  sound  very  modern  sounding  and  synths  can  also  be  heard  on  the  outro.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  Satanism,  Misanthropy,  Darkness  and  Evil  themes.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Black  Altar  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  satanic  black  emtal,  you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Ancient  Warlust".

 Next  up  is  Kirkebrenn  who  return  with  a  very  traditional  and  blasphemous  style  of  black  metal.

  Their  side  of  the  split  starts  out  with  some  heavy  riffing  and  grim  yet  high  pitched  black  metal  screams.  When  guitar  solos  and  leads  are  utilized  they  are  also  done  in  a  very  dark  yet  melodic  style  along  with  a  brief  use  of  clean  singing  and  blast  beats  can  also  be  heard  in  the  faster  sections  of  the  songs.

  When  tremolo  picking  is  utilized  it  also gives  the  songs  more  of  a  raw  feeling  along  with  the  songs  also  adding  in  a  decent  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts.  The  music  also  adds  in  a  good  balance  between  old  school  and  modern  influences,  melodies  are  also  added  in  some  of  the  guitar  riffing  and  classical  guitars  are  also  added  on  the  closing  track  which  is  also  an  instrumental.  The  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  Norwegian  and  cover  blasphemy,  darkness  and  winter  themes.   

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  sounding  recording  from  Kirkebrann  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  raw  and  melodic  black  metal,  you  should  check  out  their  side  of  the  split.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Et  Nederlag".  8  out  of  10.

  In  conclusion  I  feel  this  is  a  very  great  sounding  split  and  I  would  recommend  it  to  all  fans  of  raw,  melodic  and  satanic  black  metal.  8  out  of  10.

www.facebook.com/blackaltarwww.facebook.com/kirkebrann

https://youtu.be/om6gufJFl04   

Kirkebrann Interview

1.Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?
 These days we are preparing and doing last arrangements on the material for our next album. I guess in september we will be ready to go to studio and record our 12 tracks. We are also preparing for a small concert in Oslo 14 sep.

2.In April you where a part of a split, how would you describe the musical sound of the newer material and also how does it differ from  the stuff you have released in the past?
Well it's still our sound but on this next album the majority of the members participated in the composition so it will be a bit different. On our earlier releases i wrote most of the material and we arrange it together on rehersals, now we still arrange it together but different writers. I guess the new album will be more solid, a bit scizho, but still Kirkebrann he he. It's Black Metal still, the way we like it, in your fucking face.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?
I guess we are a bit sick of the world... it's full of arrogant people believing we are better than the universe itself, but most of all we are anti religious. Religion is the big plague in this world and that's one of the big message in our lyrics. All is fucked up... I can not fucking understand how people can believe in that crap. Just read those damn books and see how fucked up it is. Take a look at the universe and understand how small you really are.

4.I know that the bands name means church burning', how would you describe your anti Christian and Satanic views?
I guess i answered this already he he. We are not just anti christian but anti religion. And church of satan? Who needs a damn book to learn how to think... fuck it.

5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?
I get fucked on stage and I release the hatred he he. We had a few line up changes so i guess there have been some different performances but it all over quite good i think. We always get good feedback from the audience; I do my best to fuck them up he he. I enjoyed most of our shows. I guess, one of my favorite is of course when we played at Inferno Festival Club Day with full house. It was great... there was not room for more people. The gigs in Tønsberg our, “hometown”, have always been good and of course in Spain on our mini tour we had some good crowded, specially in Palencia he he Yes, you guys were crazy.

6.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?
Well now we will focus on the album during few moths except for the gig in Oslo, so i guess it will not be so many gigs this year, but we started booking and hopfully have many gigs next year. We have confirmed a gig at a festival in Wales april next year. Finally we have a manager now so I don't have to do all the work myself he he.

7.Can you tell us a little bit more about the bands that where also a part of the current split?
There is Visegaard from Skien, a good Black Metal band; I think they have some trouble with their debut album but i hope it works out for them he he. I haven't talked so mutch with those guys but they are a good gang. We will hopefully play together again. And of cpurse, there are our good friends of Djevelkult... they released their full length last year i think (don't kill me Jan) and we have played lots of gigs with them. We toured together with them in Spain and will co-headline with them next year on the festival in Wales. They are working on some new meterial now and it sounds good. We will still work together with them.

8.The split was released by VempireChrist & Visual Assault, can you tell us a little bit more about this label?
To be honest i dont know much about it ha ha ha. As far as i know it's a fan made split in a very limited copies and i still have a few left if someone like to order just contact me on the Kirkebrann page on Facebook.

9.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by black metal?
I guess it has been good. Our first album was not very good promoted but all feedback i get is good. We will do better on the promotion in the future and get Kirkebrann out to the masses he he. As i said before the live feedback is always good, so more touring must be done.

10.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects that the band members are a part of?
It's a bit quiet in all of them he he. I think Svidd is finished with an EP and Svikt is working in some new songs for recording. There has been some trouble with lineup changes and a break in the rehearsal room. So it's a bit quiet but something will happen eventually. My other projects are on ice so I will focus on Kirkebrann for a while.

11.You are getting record to record a new album, what can we expect musically when it comes out?
Guess i have answered this already again he he. As i said it will be a bit different with 12 songs but still Black Punk fucking Metal. So if you don't fuck off and listen to something else he he.

12.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
I guess my biggest inspiration is old Darkthrone (A Blaze in the Nothern Sky 'til Panzerfaust) and old Gorgoroth (Pentagram til Under the Sign of Hell). Fantastic albums and will always be. Still I listen to them nowadays he he. I'm not so good at checking out new bands but i think Svarthauge from Oslo is great. I mostly listen to old black metal,punk and rock and roll. There is no black metal without rock and roll.

13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
The world will end and everything will die and that is a good thing!!

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Kirkebrann/Nar Alt Dor/Blackcrowned Records/2013 CD Review

  Kirkebrann  are  a  band  from  Norway  that  plays  a  very  raw,  melodic,  blasphemous and  satanic form  of  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their 2013  album  "Nar  Alt  Dor"  which  was  release y  Blackcrowned  Records.

  Dark  and  atmospheric sounding  synths  start  off  the  album  along  with some  spoken  word  parts  and  a  few  seconds  later  a  heavy guitar  sound  makes  its  way  onto  the  recording  and  after  the  intro  the  music  starts  going  for more  of  a  melodic  black  metal  sound  along  with  some  blast  beats  and  grim  screams  as  well  as  a  great  amount  of  raw  aggression.

  Throughout the  recording  there  is  a  great  mixture  of  slow,  mid  paced  and  fast  parts  and  clean  playing  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  the  solos  and  leads  the  band  uses  remain  true  to  a  melodic  style  of  black  metal  and  one  of  the  later  tracks  also  brings  in  a  brief  use  of  clean  singing  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Kirkebrann  plays  a  style  of  black  metal  that  is  very  raw  and  melodic and  also has  a  Swedish  feeling  at  times,  the  production  sounds  very  raw  and  heavy  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  a  mixture  of  English  and  Norwegian  and  cover  Satanism,  Occultism  and  Blasphemous  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Kirkebrann  are  a  very  great  sounding  raw  and  melodic  satanic  black  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Incoming"  "Bombehagl"  "Necrocosmos"  and  "Tal  Satan".  8  out  of 10.

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