Yahh! I just listened to perhaps one of the scariest death metal CDs I've ever laid my hands on! Keeping in mind that I use the term "death metal" a bit loosely, for this CD has elements of thrash, black and doom thrown into the pot here.
I'll be honest in saying that when I first heard Immortal Souls on the split-CD they did with Mordecai, I wasn't that much impressed. Well, fortunately I put that aside, popped this into my CD player, and after peeling myself off of the wall, I can say that the band has risen a few notches in my list. Whew. I would have to say that Under the Northern Sky would be perfect for those who found Possession's Eternally Haunt a bit too warm and fuzzy for their taste. The first track, "Frostmind", doesn't play as much as it ATTACKS the listener in full force. And, to say the very least, the CD doesn't much back down from there. "The Cleansing" and "The Cold Northwind" keep up the attack, and by the time you get to "Painthings", you will feel like you just went about twenty rounds with the Rancor from Return of the Jedi. The lyrics use a lot of metaphorical nature imagery to describe the person of Christ, as well as descriptions of the hard road we as Christians walk on. The packaging is beautiful as well, rounding out a definite must have for the extreme metalhead. Just remember to mop up afterwards.
10/10
Other coverage for this album
Art for the Ears 2001Reviewed by Marco PovervestThe first time I got acquainted with this band's music, was through their four songs on the split-EP with black metal band Mordecai. Now the full length album with its ten songs is rotating in my CD player, making me wonder how much progress the band's made. With the first assault on my ears, I'm inclined to think the band moved on to black metal. Yet that's far from accurate. The opening track…Dead Zine 2001Reviewed by GrindboyDo you remember when you first started listening to music and buying records/tapes/cd's/whatever? Remember the feeling of overwhelming excitement and enthusiasm that accompanied each new purchase? As your collection grew over time, though, the excitement lessened somewhat to the point where it was barely recognizable at all. New music was still interesting and fun, but not the same as when it was…Dead Zine 2001Reviewed by D_ListerAlbums like this make me wish there was a higher rating I could go to. A perfect rating of 10 almost seems to be inadequate for a release like this. This CD is truly a masterpiece that will go down as one of Christian music's best CDs ever. It seems that the comparisons of In Flames and (some) Dark Tranquility are very accurate (keep in mind Dark Tranquility has been around for seemingly EVER and…Similar sounding releases
1998OpethMy Arms, Your Hearse
2003MortificationPower, Pain & Passion
2004A Faith Called ChaosForgive Nothing
2003Darkest HourHidden Hands of a Sadist Nation
2004Mortal TreasonA Call to the Martyrs
2001AmosGothic SoulMore from Immortal Souls
1999Divine Wintertime / Through The Woods, Towards The Dawn
1997Reflections of Doom
2000The Cleansing
2003Ice Upon The Night
