1349 - Demonoir

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\r\n  This is the fifth full-length album by the\r\nNorwegian act 1349 and is produced by Tom G. Warrior (Celtic Frost, Triptykon).  Behind the drum-kit sits the one and only Mr.\r\nFrost (Satyricon).  A lot of celebrities\r\nhere but let’s see if it’s actually worth it.\r\n

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\r\n  Yes it is. \r\nTo be fair I must say that 1349 have managed to maintain a certain\r\nquality in all their releases, so I put the CD in my stereo with high\r\nexpectations.  Without breaking new ground,\r\nthe four-piece from Oslo is a great example on how to play modern Scandinavian\r\nblack metal.  Ultra-fast drumming,\r\nscratchy guitars and vocals straight from the mad house.  All this enriched with other elements such as\r\nthe old school drum parts, some standard metal riffing and certain levels of\r\nvocal madness.  If you listen carefully amidst\r\nthe whispers you can discern some acoustic licks, weird sounds, desperate\r\nscreams, horns and even a grand piano.\r\n

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\r\n  Excellent job production-wise by Mr. Warrior.  Frost’s exceptional drumming can be heard in\r\nevery detail without losing its aggressiveness. \r\nThe guitars sound dirty but articulate and are intensely performed so\r\nthat they stand out through the chaos.  The\r\nvocals –sometimes up-front and sometimes in the background- raise 1349’s music\r\nto a higher level.  The final outcome\r\nsounds tight and noisy, so that after the album is over the silence seems\r\nprofound.\r\n

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\r\n  Another quality release by 1349 with tunes\r\nsuch as “Atomic Chapel”, “ When I Was Flesh ”, “ The Devil Of The Deserts ” and\r\n“ Demonoir ”.  The short interludes\r\nbetween the songs contribute to the continuity of the album’s atmosphere.  Let me remind you again that this is not a\r\nradical musical creation but quite a remarkable release in the Scandinavian\r\nblack metal genre.  An album that I\r\nappreciated for what it is and will surely listen to again.\r\n

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