Now that Christian "black" metal is becoming easier to find (and more popular) it is no surprise that the quality of the music is also improving. Vaakevandring from Norway brings us three tracks of true black splendor with this 17 minute ep. The first song on here is very atmospheric and contains more elements of "doom" rather than black, sounding very much like the band Arcturus. Tracks two and three are both very true to the black genre with the high raspy vocals of bands like Horde and the double kick drum attack. Ominous melodies are formed by the guitar as it winds its way through the song and the everpresent keyboard retains the great atmosphere of all that is good and beautiful about black metal. This cd is a nice blend of the shrill (ala Kekal and Horde) and the atmospheric (ala Antestor and Cradle Of Filth). About three minutes into the second song you really get a majestic feel as the keys build slowly to peak and then wane again to a somber and sad feeling. During track 3 (which showcases a beautiful acoustic guitar interlude) I almost thought I was listening to Antestor, so for those who miss that sound (or want more of it) this will be a gem. This is how black metal should be done folks. I can not wait for a full-length!! (note: 2 of the 3 tracks are sung in Norwegian)
9/10
Other Staff Member Ratings
D_Lister: 9.5/10
Other coverage for this album
Art for the Ears 1999Reviewed by Marco PovervestThis demo-CD has three songs on it of which two are sung in Norwegian and the other one in English. Yes, they're from Norway! Vaakevandring brings melodic black metal. In this case it means the keyboards play a dominant role. Each song has an intermezzo where the keyboards take over, almost making it symphonic metal. Sometimes it could have been better by building up to a climax and incorporating…Dead Zine 1999Reviewed by NecRoSarXI tell you, sometimes a burger satisfies more than the full meal deal. In the same way, this three-song demo by Norwegian unblack metal act Vaakevandring is much more potent than, say, a full-length. The sound, to go a bit further than just saying "unblack metal", melds some very ethereal Viking metal, or forest metal- some would say doom metal- sounds like that of later Burzum records. The…Similar sounding releases
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