Black Funeral - Az-I-Dahak (Behemoth Productions, 2004)

It's quite intriguing how some artists interpret the aesthetic and feeling of black metal; accumulating it in all its essence, dismantling it and then producing a twisted novel amalgam which at times can be capable of re-defining the whole genre. Take a look at your most typical examples being Marduk, Dark Funeral or Thy Primordial and then compare with some more avant-garde bands such as Arcturus or Vens Buens Ende. The latter have managed (always moving within a black metal frame work) to generate some truly mesmerising soundscapes of black metal imagery. In the case of Black Funeral, although not necessarily re-defining the genre, they have pretty much managed to validate the perennial dictum of black metal and extreme metal in general: "You can always go further". - See more at: http://www.tartareandesire.com/reviews/Black_Funeral/Az-I-Dahak/2813/#sthash.LV2eDl56.dpuf

It's quite intriguing how some artists interpret the aesthetic and feeling of black metal; accumulating it in all its essence, dismantling it and then producing a twisted novel amalgam which at times can be capable of re-defining the whole genre. Take a look at your most typical examples being Marduk, Dark Funeral or Thy Primordial and then compare with some more avant-garde bands such as Arcturus or Vens Buens Ende. The latter have managed (always moving within a black metal frame work) to generate some truly mesmerising soundscapes of black metal imagery. In the case of Black Funeral, although not necessarily re-defining the genre, they have pretty much managed to validate the perennial dictum of black metal and extreme metal in general: "You can always go further". 

The beast that lurks behind this musical entity (Michael Ford aka Drakkheim Abaddon Nachttoter also an occult/chaos magic author) has gained access to his most maleficent nightmares and has presented them in their most raw and mordant audial form. The sound indeed is raw and unprocessed but the sensation emanating through it is far subtler and still omnipresent. The mechanical rhythms followed by the churning bass and distorted guitars give the impression that there is something inhuman at work here beyond what is conceivable, what is understood. There are times where the album trespasses that fine boundary between black metal and ambient noise but that happens non-intentionally almost naturally. Meandering amidst this desolate and cold conception are the tormented, raspy vocals of Nachttoter distorted congruently with the whole warped sound. A truly disturbing album as it is, Az-I-Dahak, possesses in addition a mesmerising atmosphere which can lead the listener to a perpetual trance. This is black metal distorted to its most vile and twisted degree. - See more at: http://www.tartareandesire.com/reviews/Black_Funeral/Az-I-Dahak/2813/#sthash.LV2eDl56.dpuf

The beast that lurks behind this musical entity (Michael Ford aka Drakkheim Abaddon Nachttoter also an occult/chaos magic author) has gained access to his most maleficent nightmares and has presented them in their most raw and mordant audial form. The sound indeed is raw and unprocessed but the sensation emanating through it is far subtler and still omnipresent. The mechanical rhythms followed by the churning bass and distorted guitars give the impression that there is something inhuman at work here beyond what is conceivable, what is understood. There are times where the album trespasses that fine boundary between black metal and ambient noise but that happens non-intentionally almost naturally. Meandering amidst this desolate and cold conception are the tormented, raspy vocals of Nachttoter distorted congruently with the whole warped sound. A truly disturbing album as it is, Az-I-Dahak, possesses in addition a mesmerising atmosphere which can lead the listener to a perpetual trance. This is black metal distorted to its most vile and twisted degree.

(originally written for Tartarean Desire - Summer 2005)

The beast that lurks behind this musical entity (Michael Ford aka Drakkheim Abaddon Nachttoter also an occult/chaos magic author) has gained access to his most maleficent nightmares and has presented them in their most raw and mordant audial form. The sound indeed is raw and unprocessed but the sensation emanating through it is far subtler and still omnipresent. The mechanical rhythms followed by the churning bass and distorted guitars give the impression that there is something inhuman at work here beyond what is conceivable, what is understood. There are times where the album trespasses that fine boundary between black metal and ambient noise but that happens non-intentionally almost naturally. Meandering amidst this desolate and cold conception are the tormented, raspy vocals of Nachttoter distorted congruently with the whole warped sound. A truly disturbing album as it is, Az-I-Dahak, possesses in addition a mesmerising atmosphere which can lead the listener to a perpetual trance. This is black metal distorted to its most vile and twisted degree. - See more at: http://www.tartareandesire.com/reviews/Black_Funeral/Az-I-Dahak/2813/#sthash.LV2eDl56.dp

The beast that lurks behind this musical entity (Michael Ford aka Drakkheim Abaddon Nachttoter also an occult/chaos magic author) has gained access to his most maleficent nightmares and has presented them in their most raw and mordant audial form. The sound indeed is raw and unprocessed but the sensation emanating through it is far subtler and still omnipresent. The mechanical rhythms followed by the churning bass and distorted guitars give the impression that there is something inhuman at work here beyond what is conceivable, what is understood. There are times where the album trespasses that fine boundary between black metal and ambient noise but that happens non-intentionally almost naturally. Meandering amidst this desolate and cold conception are the tormented, raspy vocals of Nachttoter distorted congruently with the whole warped sound. A truly disturbing album as it is, Az-I-Dahak, possesses in addition a mesmerising atmosphere which can lead the listener to a perpetual trance. This is black metal distorted to its most vile and twisted degree. - See more at: http://www.tartareandesire.com/reviews/Black_Funeral/Az-I-Dahak/2813/#sthash.LV2eDl56.dpuf

The beast that lurks behind this musical entity (Michael Ford aka Drakkheim Abaddon Nachttoter also an occult/chaos magic author) has gained access to his most maleficent nightmares and has presented them in their most raw and mordant audial form. The sound indeed is raw and unprocessed but the sensation emanating through it is far subtler and still omnipresent. The mechanical rhythms followed by the churning bass and distorted guitars give the impression that there is something inhuman at work here beyond what is conceivable, what is understood. There are times where the album trespasses that fine boundary between black metal and ambient noise but that happens non-intentionally almost naturally. Meandering amidst this desolate and cold conception are the tormented, raspy vocals of Nachttoter distorted congruently with the whole warped sound. A truly disturbing album as it is, Az-I-Dahak, possesses in addition a mesmerising atmosphere which can lead the listener to a perpetual trance. This is black metal distorted to its most vile and twisted degree. - See more at: http://www.tartareandesire.com/reviews/Black_Funeral/Az-I-Dahak/2813/#sthash.LV2eDl56.dpuf

The beast that lurks behind this musical entity (Michael Ford aka Drakkheim Abaddon Nachttoter also an occult/chaos magic author) has gained access to his most maleficent nightmares and has presented them in their most raw and mordant audial form. The sound indeed is raw and unprocessed but the sensation emanating through it is far subtler and still omnipresent. The mechanical rhythms followed by the churning bass and distorted guitars give the impression that there is something inhuman at work here beyond what is conceivable, what is understood. There are times where the album trespasses that fine boundary between black metal and ambient noise but that happens non-intentionally almost naturally. Meandering amidst this desolate and cold conception are the tormented, raspy vocals of Nachttoter distorted congruently with the whole warped sound. A truly disturbing album as it is, Az-I-Dahak, possesses in addition a mesmerising atmosphere which can lead the listener to a perpetual trance. This is black metal distorted to its most vile and twisted degree. - See more at: http://www.tartareandesire.com/reviews/Black_Funeral/Az-I-Dahak/2813/#sthash.LV2eDl56.dpuf

novel

It's quite intriguing how some artists interpret the aesthetic and feeling of black metal; accumulating it in all its essence, dismantling it and then producing a twisted novel amalgam which at times can be capable of re-defining the whole genre. Take a look at your most typical examples being Marduk, Dark Funeral or Thy Primordial and then compare with some more avant-garde bands such as Arcturus or Vens Buens Ende. The latter have managed (always moving within a black metal frame work) to generate some truly mesmerising soundscapes of black metal imagery. In the case of Black Funeral, although not necessarily re-defining the genre, they have pretty much managed to validate the perennial dictum of black metal and extreme metal in general: "You can always go further". The beast that lurks behind this musical entity (Michael Ford aka Drakkheim Abaddon Nachttoter also an occult/chaos magic author) has gained access to his most maleficent nightmares and has presented them in their most raw and mordant audial form. The sound indeed is raw and unprocessed but the sensation emanating through it is far subtler and still omnipresent. The mechanical rhythms followed by the churning bass and distorted guitars give the impression that there is something inhuman at work here beyond what is conceivable, what is understood. There are times where the album trespasses that fine boundary between black metal and ambient noise but that happens non-intentionally almost naturally. Meandering amidst this desolate and cold conception are the tormented, raspy vocals of Nachttoter distorted congruently with the whole warped sound. A truly disturbing album as it is, Az-I-Dahak, possesses in addition a mesmerising atmosphere which can lead the listener to a perpetual trance. This is black metal distorted to its most vile and twisted degree.
- See more at: http://www.tartareandesire.com/reviews/Black_Funeral/Az-I-Dahak/2813/#sthash.LV2eDl56.dpuf

It's quite intriguing how some artists interpret the aesthetic and feeling of black metal; accumulating it in all its essence, dismantling it and then producing a twisted novel amalgam which at times can be capable of re-defining the whole genre. Take a look at your most typical examples being Marduk, Dark Funeral or Thy Primordial and then compare with some more avant-garde bands such as Arcturus or Vens Buens Ende. The latter have managed (always moving within a black metal frame work) to generate some truly mesmerising soundscapes of black metal imagery. In the case of Black Funeral, although not necessarily re-defining the genre, they have pretty much managed to validate the perennial dictum of black metal and extreme metal in general: "You can always go further". The beast that lurks behind this musical entity (Michael Ford aka Drakkheim Abaddon Nachttoter also an occult/chaos magic author) has gained access to his most maleficent nightmares and has presented them in their most raw and mordant audial form. The sound indeed is raw and unprocessed but the sensation emanating through it is far subtler and still omnipresent. The mechanical rhythms followed by the churning bass and distorted guitars give the impression that there is something inhuman at work here beyond what is conceivable, what is understood. There are times where the album trespasses that fine boundary between black metal and ambient noise but that happens non-intentionally almost naturally. Meandering amidst this desolate and cold conception are the tormented, raspy vocals of Nachttoter distorted congruently with the whole warped sound. A truly disturbing album as it is, Az-I-Dahak, possesses in addition a mesmerising atmosphere which can lead the listener to a perpetual trance. This is black metal distorted to its most vile and twisted degree.
- See more at: http://www.tartareandesire.com/reviews/Black_Funeral/Az-I-Dahak/2813/#sthash.LV2eDl56.dpuf