Setherial - Treason [EP] (2011)

Setherial - Treason [EP]

Label: Goathorned, 2011

1.     Treason [A Death That Breeds Through Aeons]     04:58
2.     Warfare [God is Dead]     05:15
     

Okay, first of all I'd like to say, that I didn't expect anything from this one, as the album before it didn't impress me at all. Turns out I was wrong. Here we have one new song and a cover of Zyklon B and, while being very short, this EP is a great example of Swedish Black Metal.

Not much to say here, except, that it is a great work, as both songs manage to capture your attention and hold it until the end. The sound is very well produced (unlike "Death Triumphant") and the songs (or more like "the song") have thought out and followable structures (unlike "Ekpyrosis"). Sounds very natural overall and flows just fine, despite having a somewhat complex structure. The "Warfare" cover is done rather well, although the original is of course absolutely unbeatable. Made me think of DiabolicuM, one member of which, Sasrof, was once handling bass in Setherial.

Overall, it is a very solid work, so if you're into well-done (modern? I hate this word, related to) Black Metal, I'd recommend you to check it. Of course it's not a landmark release, but worthy nonetheless.

www.Setherial.com
www.myspace.com/setherialsweden

Negative Plane - Stained Glass Revelations (2011)

Negative Plane - Stained Glass Revelations

Label: The AJNA Offensive / Invictus Prod., 2011

1.     The Fall     02:25    
2.     Lamentations & Ashes     07:02    
3.     Angels of Veiled Bone     08:04    
4.     The Third Hour     01:49    
5.     The One and the Many     08:29    
6.     Charnel Spirit     01:13    
7.     All Souls     09:48    
8.     The Number of the Word     08:20    
9.     Stained Glass Reflections     02:47    
10.     Stained Glass Revelations     11:30


After their amazing 2006 debut, "Et In Saecula Saeculorum", Negative Plane disappeared from the scene for 5 whole years and now re-emerge with "Stained Glass Revelations", their second onslaught of adversarial magickal current.

Did they change their direction? Is the new attack just as raw, dark and hateful as the first one? The answer is both yes and no. The sound changed a lot, becoming more refined and, perhaps, soft. The aggression and chaos, previously prevalent, now take a more secondary role, while the atmosphere and the melodies are still present. "EISS" featured many signature Celtic Frost moments and those are mostly gone by now. BUT. The album's style can't be confused with any other band. The moment it starts you KNOW it's Negative Plane. While you continue the listening, the changes slowly creep in. Fewer fast riffs, more slow and melancholic moments, dark organ interludes...

Definitely, an album, whose quality can't be appreciated by a couple of quick listens, it is much more of a slow grower, than the immediately storming first one. What is undeniable, Negative Plane is a genuine gem among the, mostly, rubbish, that comes from the US nowadays, together with bands like Nightbringer and Bestia Arcana, spearheading the new front.

Featuring a lot of great artwork, the CD's booklet is a masterpiece on its own right. I do think, that some of the old fans might miss the chaos within the band's music, as I do so myself very much, but give it a listen. Open yourself to it. Accept it and it might creep under your skin like a surgical needle.