This Swiss / Norwegian outfit may well be new with only this album proceeded by a couple of singles but their line-up certainly had me intrigued and wanting to hear more. Set up by guitarist B. (yes one of those initialised acts) of Aara he is joined by drummer J. of Porta Nigra & Forgotten Tomb as well as Malphas who also count bassist T. in their ranks. This leaves unknown to me vocalist R. who apparently resides in Dooms Vain, Ilhalung & Legiones. Introductions aside this all should give you a clue of what to expect here on their debut and that’s a veritable plague of occultist black metal. With the promise of “chaos, ecstasy, darkness and inner contemplation” it’s probably best to take a deep breath and plummet headlong into the quartet’s pit of sorcery.
Darkness descends via the pulse of a short intro before we sweep into ‘Congregation Of The Unholy.’ A filthy barrage of drums and growls fill the speakers with dense rumbling sound. Guitars strum hellaciously gradually forming into a melodic weave and vocals coarsely growl over the top. We can kind of just about make out what out R is singing about, despite the venom and as things slow to give his voice precedence it’s suitably eldritch. Suitably dark and sinister, perfectly giving you the sense you will have gained from the striking cover-art this is at times a pestiferous swarm of malevolent force combined into a raging tumult. However, the band do take feet off pedals and occasionally drape their craft in atmospheric grandiosity so be prepared for things to turn on the drop of a hat. On the whole though it’s a speedy and dense affair with officious sounding vocals dogging you practically every step of the way. It’s pretty much everything one would expect from promo photos of cloaked and masked figures and the groups serpentine sigil.
Grim malaise is present in the bouncy likes of ‘Dire Necropolis’ and melody is enforced by the rugged stomp of the song sneaking into your head and latching on as the vocal “poison” infects. ‘Rembrandt Of Death’ summons images of a cursed painting as it tears off like a witch on a broomstick spreading mischief and mayhem on its furious flight. ‘Vale of the Taubra’ takes us into the shadowlands with gloom and fog wrapping round in a tight embrace and one can’t help thinking this is a pretty damn good soundtrack as night’s gather in and darkness descends. A brief acoustic passage sparkles all of a sudden and graces like an enchanting spell. Apparently Therizo is a “Greek New Testament word meaning to reap or harvest” and its souls that get this treatment on the title track which swaggers with a violent cleave interspersed with some almost Nephilim etched gothic guitar and vocal parts.
A formidable first conjuration here from Taubrą and one to be taken seriously by lovers of orthodox blackness. Signed and sealed in blood at the following links.
(8/10 Pete Woods)
Leave a Reply