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Not yet familiar with the bands hosted at Global Domination? Now's definitely the time to check 'em out. And what could be a better place for it than their Myspace-pages? Links below...
Reviews
Black Flame: Conquering purity
28/09/07 || Global Domination
This review was written by ex-staffer/cocksmoker Desolator.
When I heard Disiplin’s “Anti Life”, I loved it. I then checked out the members’ other bands and found a true gem in the black metal field, by the name of Black Flame. With a name like this, I expected some good black metal and when I checked out the song samples on Black Flame’s Myspace page (yes, even the most evil black metal bands have Myspace profiles), I got what I was looking for, and even more.
It’s dubious to base a band’s satanic merits on its moniker, but in the case of Black Flame, I was quite right to do so. When I think of such a name, I think of blacker-than-black flames that can’t be seen during the night. Imagine the fear a farmer would feel if the bush fires lurking among his premises were as black as night. Everywhere he would go, there could be a black fire eating his livestock and spitting out the sizzling flesh and wool.
Anyway…
When I heard “Curse Ov The Flesh” (a damn fine black metal track), I knew I had to get this album. Even if doing so required me to skin and torture some innocent civilians. Then feed the fuckers to the dogs (sorry, couldn’t resist another Disiplin reference hehe)! What we have here is an excellent crossbreed ov (did I get it right or does the bunny die?) black and death metal. A monstrous offspring of a fast and crushing death metal band and a bleak and atmospheric black metal band. Thank the fires of Hell that some members from the two species settled their differences, got drunk and mixed their DNA to create bands such as the one I’m reviewing.
The vocals are not your typical black metal shrieks for Satanic power. Cardinale Italo’s voice is mainly a growl that is nothing I’ve heard before, and I’ve listened to a lot of black metal albums. In the midst of its uniquity, is it any good? You bet it is! Is it a growl for Satanic power? You fucken bet it is! It sounds very mean and commanding like a sergeant demanding you to slaughter and pillage in the name of the crushing rhythms of this music, especially in “Curse Ov The Flesh”. As well as growling, Italo handles the guitars, handling them like a true Satanic beast master. In other words, he has great talent and refuses to give in to the pretentiousness of showing off. He showcases a wide variety of riffage here – including beautiful melodic tunes, eerie and haunting solos and bone-grinding riffs.
Serpentrax’s bass playing is certainly present and the thickness is unquestionable, but fortunately it doesn’t overpower the other instruments. It serves the music with the power and depth it needs, like my blood cells serving me with the candy-coated catatonic insanity that I so sorely need.
Last but not least, M:A Fog’s drumming is top notch. The drumbeats are loud and clear and like cannons they add a nice element of devastation without causing collateral damage to the other instruments. The dude is fast as fuck, but also has no problem with slowing down when necessary. I can tell this guy is a strong and fit fella just by listening to the way he thrashes his cans with no mercy.
This flame of black metal was created how I like it best – thick, dirty, dark and powerful. If you’re looking for any Burzum rip-off bands, then look elsewhere as this album is enough to trigger your next cardiac arrest. Why? Because you weren’t expecting to hear well polished yet evil sounding black metal while eating frostbitten donuts, were you? Mind you, I don’t see why black metal purists shouldn’t like this, unless they have problems with little things like bass and variety. Like I said, it’s solidly produced and contains the raw and bleak black metal elements that I love oh-so-much. This is another band that aspiring black metal players should listen to and learn from.
8 Italian flesh curses out of 10.
- Information
- Released: 2007
- Label: Worship Him Records
- Website: www.black-flame.net
- Band
- Serpentrax: bass
- M:A Fog: drums
- Cardinale Italo: vocals and guitars
- Tracklist
- 01. Mors Triumphalis – Intermezzo
- 02. The Curse Ov The Flesh
- 03. Conquering Purity
- 04. The Sacred Formulas Ov Return
- 05. Totalitarian Satanic Monolith
- 06. Mundus Patet
- 07. First Litany Ov Eternal Nothingness
- 08. Necropolis – Voices From The Beyond