Füneral Rain Press Cörps

Genre: Black Metal
Label: Regain Records

The black metal masters of Belgium return with another album of trve, kvlt anthems to rock out to.
There is a palpable atmosphere of hate and rage with this album, and if you’re not into black metal yet, and you don’t think the genre is your thing, don’t start getting into the genre with Pentagrammaton. It’s the type of listen for only true fans of black metal, and it will weed the posers out of the crowd really fucking quickly.
The riffs are nice and heavy, which is a marked difference from a lot of black metal. Most bands in the genre go for a more hard attack, and this heaviness from Enthroned is a nice treat for the ear. Granted, the hardness is here too, with a ferocity that would make a rabid lion cower in fear.
Blastbeats from hell grab your throat, punch you in the face, and then throw you into a mosh pit full of pitbulls. In other words, the drumming is really awesome, and is one of the highlights of the album.
But it’s Nornagest’s voice that truly takes the spotlight on the album. He has a way of delivery, an intensity to his voice, that is captivating. It’s like you have no choice but to listen to him, and listen well.
Favorite tracks of mine are “The Vitalized Shell”, “Rion Riorrim”, “Magnvs Princeps Leopardi”, and “Nehas’t”.
8.5 out of 10.

Enthroned on MySpace.

Genre: Black Metal
Label: Regain Records

Norway is one of the best known countries to export black metal, and it’s been doing so since the 80′s. And now, here we are, 2010, and Norway is doing it again: exporting a rough cut diamond made out of black metal.
Unrelenting, Satanic, and old school sounding, Ragnarok are making my day. Primitive riffing with a somewhat melodic sounding lead guitar, with a raw, lo-fi sound that’s starting to cross into hi-fi, and possibly one of the grimmest throats I’ve heard. Favorite tracks are “Stabbed by the Horns”,  “In Honor of Satan”, and the faster than hell title track.
Fans of old Satyricon, Taake, and of course Darkthrone, you’ll probably love this album.
Collectors of the King is a wicked and evil way to damnation, and I’m loving it. This album will definitely be getting quite a bit of listens from me.
8.5 out of 10.

Ragnarok on MySpace.

Genres: Melodic Death, Thrash
Label: Regain Records

My first experience with Arise is proving to be a nice one.
Melodic death done the Swedish way, The Reckoning starts off with a short intro and a fast riff that’s headbangalicious. Breakdowns are heavy as hell, and not cheesy whatsoever. It’s like a good cross of Swedish melodeath and American thrash. But ultimately, it’s not the most memorable album I’ve ever heard. These guys are super talented, but they remind me too much of all the other great Swedes, mostly In Flames and Hipocrisy, that The Reckoning just makes me want to go and listen to their albums instead.
It’s good, but it’s not the best there is.
6.5 out of 10.

Arise on MySpace.