EREB ALTOR – Gastrike
Napalm Records – Out now
Black Metal has truly become one of my genres of choice over these last ten years, however, the sheers number of new bands which appear on an almost daily basis has resulted in many top quality releases sadly slipping through my well-placed nets. One such band is the Swedish Epic/Viking Black Metal trio Ereb Altor – a band which has been operating under different monikers (see Forlorn, Isole) since the early 90s but whose latest release “Gastrike” is only their third ever studio album.
Being a massive fan of Bathory and being intrigued by the great number of positive album reviews that I found on the net relating to the band’s past work, I decided to give this new seven track album a good listen.
Ereb Altor’s take on Black Metal can hardly be described as original, their sources of inspiration being very clear. When not investing in slow repetitive riffs and eerie lead melodies that are reminiscent of those of leaders of the scene, such as Burzum and Mayhem, the trio indulges in band vocal themes and lead guitar harmonies that betray their love of their sadly long deceased countryman Thomas “Quorthon” Forsberg – the leader of the mighty Bathory!
Having said that, one thing that these three lads did was to perfectly blend all these classic and well-tested elements and balance them out with Doom Metal riffs and harmonies that characterised their earliest material, making “Gastrike” a varied, exciting and at times also very pleasantly surprising release!
It is almost impossible not to like songs like the opening track “The Gathering Of Witches” , especially as it features a dead catchy Burzum-style mid tempo heavy riff and supporting keys reminiscent of those that Rotting Christ used when recording “Thy Mighty Contract”! In “Dance Of Darkness” we have a slow-paced, old-school Mayhem riff which soon develops into an ‘all guns blazing’ fast piece, while “Dispellation” is the outfit’s first tribute piece to the mighty Bathory as it is filled with catchy guitar harmonies and impassioned band choral chants.
Initially “Boatman’s Call” comes across as another simply-riffed piece but soon operates on a groovy head-banging theme like those used by latter-day Satyricon, while both “The Mistress Of Wisdom” and “I Djupet Sa Svart” see a return to more Epic/Viking Metal forms. The closing composition of the album, namely “Seven”, is another highlight as it operates on different rhythmical tempos and incorporates a commanding main riff as well as an eerie break where the band’s Doom Metal credentials are presented in heroic fashion.
Based on the above “Gastrike” could have easily been a ‘generic’ album, but that is far from the case. There is a lot of passion, energy and skill behind these seven tracks – all fairly justifiable considering the fact that these guys have been working together in different guises since the early 90s. More importantly, not only are these guys using all these classic influences with the respect and reverence that they deserve but they also present them in a clever and imaginative way, thereby ensuring that the process of listening to “Gastrike” is thoroughly enjoyable.
Ereb Altor’s third studio album is a must-have for any Black Metal fan but can also appeal to the average Metal fan, provided that this passionate and heartfelt music is what the listener cares for.
John Stefanis
Rating: **** (4.0/5.0)
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