Grind To Death Records – Metal Eclipse Reviews

Korp – And Darker It Shall Become

Metalcatto

It’s been some time since we checked in on epic comebacks. Not that there have been many this year, but I was hoping Korp could deliver one for us. And Darker it Shall Become has everything, in principle, to succeed at this task. There’s nothing like an album you can’t easily define to do the job. This one is a strange mix of Death, Black, and Thrash Metal that I feared might leave us numb—but you know, the past is always full of disappointment and regret, which is why I approached it cautiously. Sick artwork, though! Let’s do this.

Tusenårseken – Omhuldra

Stargazer Scholar

The underground spirit of extreme Metal doesn’t prevent it from being one of the most demanding genres when it comes to execution. The increasing accessibility of modern technology has yet to catch up with human creativity and the exploratory ambitions of artists working in small studios and isolated bedrooms. Musicianship and songwriting talent are still the foundation of any musical edifice, but without appropriate production quality, even the most solid building blocks may not hold. Omhuldra, the third full-length release by Sweden’s one-man Atmospheric/Pagan Black Metal project Tusenårseken, exemplifies this contradiction better than any other album I’ve heard recently.