Hi my name is Matt and I am an idiot. “That is evident from your ramblings on this site Matt but why so this particular time?”.
Well gentle reader, when I asked for “Antithesis” the new album from White Void mastermind and Borknagar mainstay Lars “Are” Nedland I got my wires crossed entirely. I thought that White Void were responsible for the lo-fi bat shit dungeon synth Black Metal of “Hallucinogenic BlackCubes” and was expecting a darker version of that. What a wally. The aforementioned track is by “White Nights” whereas White Void released the much raved over Anti last year. White Void play 70’s proggy hard rock with some new wave edge to it. I thought it was OK when it came out but quickly forgot about it – hence the mix up. So here I am reviewing the flip side of the coin under my own false pretences.
Black Void is hailed as a dark punk/black metal hybrid which is true to some extent and describes well the spine of the album in its attitude. However, this is no grime encrusted war metal release, nor is it a lo-fi BM rager. The 9 tracks that make up Antithesis mix up a little Strapping Young Lad, Amon Amarth and Volcano era Satyricon with some good time anarchic rock and roll for good measure. The production is great – as to be expected from Mr Hedland and pals. It is maybe a little too polished but there is plenty of grease on its chrome parts. Some of the melodies remind me of Misfits song structures – I find myself singing Where Eagles Dare along to blackened rocker Death to Morality.
This album is a lot of fun. From opener” Void” it is clear that Lars loves this project. It kicks off with a fuzzy rocking riff before slowing into some melodic vocals which trade places by more grizzled gruffness for a noughties melodeath frolic. “Reject Everything” has an Al Jourgensen riff running throughout and a punk urgency that invokes Amebix and got my heart racing.
Midway through the album following the aforementioned “Death to Morality” is an Amon Amarth /In Flames hybrid that maintains enough of Black Void’s DNA to not require a mouth swab. “No Right No Wrong,“ which follows features some ethereal vocals and some strange pitchshift effects alongside the bombast. It kinda works but the pedal is let up when it feels like it should have been pushed further to the floor. “It’s Not Surgery ..It’s a Knife Fight” mixes up anarcho street punk with classic metal solos and Prong style chugs with a little bit of Euro metal . A right melting pot!
“Explode into Nothingness” does everything but. From a gentle intro the track erupts into a catchy as barbed wire underpants hook that continues throughout and has latched itself in my brain for the rest of the day. Some folky chants and Rob the Baron style vocals weave in and out to keep things nice and varied until the final guttural “eeurrgh”. “Nihil” is a speed metal punk romp with some moments of Power Metal that bring some delicious pomp to proceedings.
Black Void have left something special for the last track “Dadaist Disgust” with special guest Sakis Tollis of Greek legends Rotting Christ lending his larynx to this blackened balls out blast through mixing the expected chunky darkness with some soaring melody. Sounds like a lot of fun was had recording this one.
Overall Antithesis is a tasty gumbo of styles – a little too polished to be the street food delight I had hoped for at the beginning but definitely a dish worth savouring and one I will order up again and again.
(7.5/10 Matt Mason)
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