Saturday, January 30, 2010

ITP REVIEW: URGEHAL: IKONOKLAST


BAND: URGEHAL (NORWAY) GENRE: BLACK METAL LABEL: SEASON OF MIST/UNDERGROUND ACTIVISTS RELEASE DATE: 11/16/09 (EUROPE) 1/12/2010 (NORTH AMERICA)








PREVIOUS RELEASES (CATALOG): RISE OF THE MONUMENT (BEST OF COMPILATION-2009-FOLTER RECORDS), SATANISK NORSK BLACK METAL (SPLIT-2007-BLACKSEED PRODUCTIONS), THE ETERNAL ECLIPSE-15 YEARS OF SATANIC BLACK METAL (BEST
OF COMPILATION-2007-AGONIA RECORDS), GOATCRAFT TORMENT (2006-AGONIA RECORDS), A NORWEGIAN HAIL TO VON (SPLIT-2006-HOLYCAUST RECORDS), DEMONRAPE (2005-EP-AGONIA RECORDS), THROUGH THICK FOG 'TILL DEATH (2003-AGONIA RECORDS), ATOMKINDER (2001-FLESH FOR BEAST RECORDS), MASSIVE TERRESTRIAL STRIKE (1998-NO COLOURS RECORDS), ARMA CHRISTI (1997-NO COLOURS RECORDS), RISE OF THE MONUMENT (DEMO-1995), FERD (DEMO-1994)

BEST RELEASE(S): THROUGH THICK FOG 'TILL DEATH (2003), GOATCRAFT TORMENT (2006)

TRACKLISTING: URGEHAL: IKONOKLAST:
1.Stesolid Self-Destruction to Damnation04:42
2.Dødelagt04:38
3.Cut Their Tongue Shut Their Prayer05:17
4.The Necessity of Total Genocide07:11
5.Kniven Rider Dypt I Natt05:18
6.Astral Projection to Rabid Hell07:09
7.Approaching Doom05:03
8.Holocaust in Utopia07:39
9.Sopor Necrosanctus09:22

ITP RATING: ****
PRODUCTION: *** 1/2
SONGWRITING: ****
PERFORMANCE: ****

Norway's URGEHAL are a band whom have vehemently stood for the fore most, nihilistic principles of black metal, in stark contrast to the neo black metal movement and humanity as we know it.
URGEHAL came to fruition right after the second wave of Norwegian black metal and (since 1992) have consistently released slabs of vicious and quality black metal.
URGEHAL have endured a few lineup changes as drummer Uruz (Jarle Byberg) left the band
to be replaced by Erik Renton as the band also recruited new bassist Mannevond in replacement of Chiron (aka Ulv).
URGEHAL recently signed with UNDERGROUND ACTIVISTS (a sub label of SEASON OF MIST) and continue the bands prolific run of necro, norsk and unpretentious black metal.
URGEHAL's "IKONOKLAST" enters with the track "Stesolid Self-Destruction to Damnation" and a morbid sample, "That cold 'aint the weather, that's death approaching." "Stesolid Self-Destruction to Damnation" proceeds to rip you a new asshole with primitive, crusty riffs,
blast beats, venomous black metal fury, and good if not one dimensional vocals. \m/ -l- \m/..
"Dødelagt" invokes a mid paced black and roll feel, raise the horns and spin yer hair. "Dødelagt"
(at 1:19) invokes a melodic riff, and takes off with blast beats into the fury of Satan's coven, then
back to the mid paced riffing, and it doesn't get boring either.
"Cut Their Tongue Shut Their Prayer" invokes good riffing, the fury and intensity of troo
black metal as the tune (minus the guitar solos at it's ending) invokes an ungodly atmosphere through repetitive melody.
"The Necessity of Total Genocide" invokes a melancholy intro, crawling into a black and roll, tightly played chaos. "The Necessity of Total Genocide" trades hellvete with Satan for a faster pace,blast beats and interesting melodic riffs with good transitions.
"Kniven Rider Dypt I Natt" rolls in primtive, played tight with thrash drumming and expressive screams via Trondr Nefas."Kniven Rider Dypt I Natt" intensifies for a headbanging moshable horn raiser without any pretentious norse core, keyboards, or melo-black. Imagine driving down the snowy norse roads into the forests of hellvette, good atmosphere for your hellride.
"Astral Projection to Rabid Hell" is a mid tempo hellride, with a rhythm section pacing it self for a quality segue (4:19) into blast beats for a raw, necro atmosphere.
"Approaching Doom" invokes the primitive 1st wave of black metal feel, played with an intensity and conviction I haven't heard since 1992. "Approaching Doom" varies drum techniques (Erik Renton) from punk/thrash drumming to blast beats so effortlessly, giving the tune a diversity enough to keep the listener engaged.
"Holocaust in Utopia", invokes some quality almost (dare I say it) death metal, melodic riffing, slowing down to a dark mid paced, crawl of atonal riffs, eventually calling upon Lucifer from the melodic riffing to a black and roll intensity. "Holocaust in Utopia" (5:35) slows down to crawl into a dark, melancholy abyss.
URGEHAL's "IKONOKLAST" closes with it's longest tune "Sopor Necrosanctus" as the band invokes a prog rock rhythm, segueing into some quality black metal and melancholy, dark atmospheres, played with exquisite precision. "Sopor Necrosanctus" (6:30) slows down for a dark journey into a melancholic atmosphere as lightly sprinkled, classical keyboards/piano emote a beautiful ambient outro into the apocalypse.
URGEHAL play black metal with a malicious, unforgiving intensity as the bands new rhythm section ( Erik Renton-drums and Mannevond-bass) inject a hell bent versatility to the bands arsenal.
The production for URGEHAL's "IKONOKLAST" emotes a warm, intimate quality, nothing flashy, just enough of a necro edge for quality sound.
URGEHAL's primitive sensibilities come as no surprise as the band has been taping into the most misanthropic ethos for over 15 years now, without pandering to trends, changing or even a hint of progression. It's horrifying that URGEHAL are that consistent, as the band never rots or decays within it's longevity.
While some prefer URGEHAL's more aggressive work for it's vicious, nihilistic
hellride, I do enjoy the variety the band has to offer on this release.
While URGEHAL didn't event the 1st wave of Norsk black metal wheel, nor are they reinventing it, these misanthropic Satanic warlords have probably driven plenty of miles on that wheel, as there is no reason to change that tire now.
.. "IKONOKLAST" is another quality release from Norway's grim warlords, as we have URGEHAL to thank for the tradition of KVLT and necro/ norsk black metal.








ITP RATING: ****                                         
PRODUCTION: *** 1/2
SONGWRITING: ****
PERFORMANCE: ****

Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-
Posted by at