Here is an interesting project. I still remember the first time I listened to it - in the back seat of a car parked at the Black Stump Festival in Australia. Anonymous, the vocalist and instigator of the entire project, explained to me the musical nuances and lyrical insights as curious people walked by the car wondering what this extreme noise was. As extreme metal goes, it will now have to look back at this album as new benchmark in extremeness. Anonymous pushed the envelope.
This album was almost not released. The Nuclear Blast label have received death threats by people into the Norwegian black metal scene for even considering releasing this. The Rowe Productions company has also seriously considered not making it available in the Christian market, but for another reason: it shows not only a deep understanding of God's provision, but also a knowledge of the satanic belief system.
This movement has turned deadly, as one of the leaders, Euronymous, was found dead by multiple stab wounds. Black metalist, Count Grishnackh, is accused of his murder, as well as three counts of arson.
The mastermind behind this project (no, it's not Steve Rowe) has titled the album in Norwegian and has taken the name Anonymous as his own verbal stab at Euronymous. The entire album is a frontal assault on the Norwegian black metal movement. With titles like "Invert the Inverted Cross," "Crush the Bloodied Horns of the Goat," and "Release and Clothe the Virgin Sacrifice," you can see that Anonymous doesn't mince words. In "Behold, The Rising of the Scarlet Moon," he touches on judgement: "Generations await the sentence for passing through life of do what thou wilt!" It shows not only a deep understanding of God's provision, but also a knowledge of the satanic belief system.
Musically, it's a lightning fast delivery of the fastest blast beats known to man. The vocals take the approach of grind core, and instead of growling, is hissing. No one not into at least death metal will understand this, much less hear the lyrics (which are printed). Some of the tunes, like "Release and Clothe," have some good groove, as well as some gothic keys a la Saviour Machine.
I love this album for its astonishing boldness and willingness to confront. Be forewarned, though, with the admonition of Romans 16:19: "I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil."
To order, send $18US (CD only) to: Rowe Productions, P.O. Box 339, Mentone, Vic. 3194, Australia. (Make checks payable to Rowe Productions.)