|
Through the Eyes of the Night… Fog |
|
Thick layers of cumulous riffs and thunderous blasts of sonic fury pierce the darkened night, the latest in a quickly rising line of American Black Metal storms the heavens leaving little but devastation in their wake, Fog exterminates any and all doubt about whether we can compete with the long line of Nordic history where black death still remains a sole reason to live. To try to compare them with anyone band in particular would not only prove unfulfilling, it'd be damn near deafening. But for a reach, the immediacy with which they play, technologically terse, with brief glimpses into clarity, Nokturnal Mortum comes to mind, and to stretch the limb even further, imagine the crudest form of one Cradle of Filth, again with less to do with orchestration and more with the majesty of masochism. By song three, "The Leech Within," I'm convinced this isn't just your typically fair-weather three and out player, landing the gig, making their name then disappearing for fear of defeat. "In Magnificent Glory," a literal thunderstorm crashing down, signifies the brief but ensuing destruction, methodical in its mayhem to be sure, and "This Axe We Rule" slams down in a barrage of double-bass, slick time changes and near horrific vocals heaving for every last ounce of energy. "The Leech Within" ranks near the top overall with its crafty chord changes, simply done and wickedly fast, and a nearly orchestrated backdrop that for every breath it tries to release, the pounding fury of the rhythm section chokes it off even tighter. The title track's also among the elite here, wasting no time… let the obliteration begin. Progressively out of key, brutal almost to a fault, proof positive that if they're out to prove something, there'll be few left standing to discourage their intent. Overall, seven well-crafted tunes of death-plagued doom and Black Metal conquest, historically themed in haunting mythological crusade-like detail that could well solidify the beginning of a new era for them and others like them and for the new label that'll be fast renowned for lying at the forefront for all things evil and unholy. Released by WWIII Music Review by Vinnie Apicella
[va85@columbia.edu] |