ITP V.024 REVIEW: IMMORTAL: "WAR AGAINST ALL"

 

 

 

 

BAND: IMMORTAL (NORWAY)

GENRE: BLACK METAL

LABEL: NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS

 RELEASE DATE:5/26/2023

TITLE: "WAR AGAINST ALL"

IMMORTAL RELEASES: 

 Diabolical Fullmoon Mysticism (7/1/1992 via Osmose Production)
Pure Holocaust (11/1/1993 via Osmose Productions)
Battles In The North (5/15/1995 via Osmose Productions)
  Blizzard BeastS (2/24/1997 via Osmose Productions )
 At The Heart Of Winter (2/22/1999 via Osmose Productions)  

Damned In Black (3/27/2000 via Osmose Productions)
  Sons Of Northern Darkness ( 2/4/2002 via via Nuclear Blast)
All Shall Fall (9//25/2009 via Nuclear Blast)

Northern Chaos Gods ( 7/6/2018 via Nuclear Blast Records)

 

BEST RELEASE(S):  BATTLES IN THE NORTH (1995), AT THE HEART OF WINTER (1999), SONS OF NORTHERN DARKNESS (2002)

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IMMORTAL: "WAR AGAINST ALL"  TRACK LISTING; 

1. "WAR AGAINST ALL"

2. "THUNDERS OF DARKNESS" 

3. "WARGOD"

4. "NO SUN"

5. "RETURN TO COLD"

6. "NORDLANDIHR"

7. "IMMORTAL"

8. "BLASHYRKH MY THRONE"

ITP RATING:**** (four stars, very good)

PRODUCTION: ****

SONGWRITING: ****

PERFORMANCE:****

 

Guitarist/vocalist DEMONAZ and friends  have returned with a new studio release  "WAR AGAINST ALL". . 

 A little back tracking to how IMMORTAL became a new band:

 IMMORTAL front man ABBATH has claimed rights over the bands name via EIKOMO COMPOSITIONS. However, the application has been stopped by lyricist/guitarist DEMONAZ and drummer HORGH whom want the IMMORTAL trademark to be shared by all three members as the matter will stand before civil court (NORWEGIAN INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY COURT) JANUARY OR FEBRUARY 2015.

DEMONAZ has stated to DAGBLADET.NO. that "he is familiar with the contents of ABBATH's letter, "I've read it, and our lawyer read it. We will come back with a feed back letter it contains incorrect information".

IMMORTAL won the trade mark lawsuit over the bands name as ABBATH has split with the band for a solo career. 

Since 2015, drummer HORGH also left the IMMORTAL camp. 

 No Lawsuits, COVID and not even former vocalist ABBATH'S solo career could stop IMMORTAL from unleashing a new beast upon unsuspecting ears.   

Here ITP V.024 has the new IMMORTAL release  "WAR AGAINST ALL"  on tap to review. 

IMMORTAL'S "WAR AGAINST ALL" kicks off with the title track, kicking off with intense blast beats and some good classic IMMORTAL riffing. DEMONAZ possesses some "demonic" vocals as the chorus is right in the pocket of the song. "WARRR AGAINST ALLL"!!!!

IMMORTAL'S  "THUNDERS OF DARKNESS" employs good melodic, almost death metal riffing for trip into Northern darkness. Some riff changes adorn  "THUNDERS OF DARKNESS"all while keeping it heavy. 

IMMORTAL'S  "WARGOD" enters in mid pace, a pomp rock metal opus. At 2;03, "WARGOD" thrashes out as the drums pick up the pace and riffs swirl in black metal ecstasy.

IMMORTAL'S  "NO SUN"  enters in an epic and melodic tone, with bombastic and black and roll riffing. While a simplistic tune, IMMORTAL'S  "NO SUN" communicates well in an epic way as the song picks up pace, and blasts out into oblivion. . . 

IMMORTAL'S  "RETURN TO COLD", another mid paced, simplistic song,is a hard rocker with great vocals, and a mid winter, atmospheric vibe. 

IMMORTAL'S "NORDLANDIHR", the longest track off of  "WAR AGAINST ALL", clocking in at over 7:00 is a melodic, yet epic, instrumental track..."NORDLANDIHR" is too long for an instrumental as the track is just begging for vocals. However,"NORDLANDIHR" is good just the way it is, with post, rock tendencies. 

IMMORTAL'S  "IMMORTAL" features similar riffing as the last two songs. However, "IMMORTAL" solicits a faster pace, a sort of anthem,  complete with blast beats and a good vocal performance.   

IMMORTAL'S  "WAR AGAINST ALL" closes with  "BLASHYRKH MY THRONE, a mid paces track with light riffing...

After DEMONAZ and ABBATH split up, DEMONAZ partnered with bassist, guitarist, producer ICE DALE (ARVE ISDAL) formally of ENSLAVED to replace ABBATH ... DEMONAZ also partnered with KEVIN KVALE (GAAHLS WYRD) on drums to replace HORGH. 

Some of the tracks on IMMORTAL'S  "WAR AGAINST ALL"  sound a little samey as the band often plagiarizes itself. However, the IMMORTAL sound is very unique and the band stay very true to it's formals..

More than half of . IMMORTAL'S  "WAR AGAINST ALL" is mid paced and perhaps that makes the band a little more accessible. 

However, IMMORTAL'S ."WAR AGAINST ALL"is a well written black metal opus that takes the listener through the the dark Nordic Winter. 

Perhaps  IMMORTAL'S ."WAR AGAINST ALL" is their best effort since "SONS OF NORTHERN DARKNESS". 

I only can wish IMMORTAL takes this super group on the road.  

ITP RATING:**** (four stars, very good)

PRODUCTION: ****

SONGWRITING: ****

PERFORMANCE:****