I’ve kind of been aware of Crest Of Darkness for a while, but, as is the way of the world never quite managed to intersect with the Norwegians until this EP. Which I guess is as good a way as any to introduce ourselves; four varied tracks including a curiosity piquing choice of cover.
The title track is up first and through no fault of its own highlights just how many of black metal’s clothes have been nicked by the sludge community of late as it starts with a low end, fuzzed out stumbling thirty seconds of sludge that had me worried. However it soon breaks the chains and hammers into some good death inflected black metal, that has a good use of a little half hidden keyboard work and some nice driving pure black metal riffing in there. Not sure about those slower sludge elements but, hey, it’s a good dramatic entrance. Second song, though, ‘Armageddon’ is a fantastic slice of feral riffing black metal; snarled vocals and a fine edge to the melody, again those subtle keyboards that really round out the sound and a sense of vitality that is impossible to ignore. Maybe a little Watain in the intensity, maybe not but it is a superb, dark howl of a song that rips through you with destructive abandon. ‘Abandoned By God’ is marginally slower in tempo and more darkly dramatic in feel, highlighting some fine drum work and a sense of black metal melody that makes me think of Sargeist in a more talon ripping mode. The vocals are wonderfully expressive, varying from the snarl to an almost guttural death metal grunt and just add to the feel of this tipping over out of control and almost going full on black ‘n’ roll. In short just what you want from black metal; borderline insanity.
The closer is a cover of the old Alice Cooper song ‘Sick Things’. Now if you’re under the age of thirty and never investigated his 70s music, the 80s schlock horror-rock king might seem a weird choice for an out and out black metal band. But that probably means you never had the pleasure of delving elbow deep into some of his more fetid lyrics like ‘I Love The Dead’ or even the nasty sneer of the classic ‘Under My Wheels’. So never fear, this slow, chugging song with vocals to the fore so each and every word can be heard is a skin crawler. Demented, isolated, twisted loner shit that honestly is just what a cover should be; reminiscent of the original and yet fully made their own. Even the guitar solo is a pleasure.
Seriously well done guys and a fine dirty end to a nice and dark EP.
Well worth your attention and hopefully a nice appetiser for the next full length.
(8/10 Gizmo)
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