As the 2002nd Grimlair demo - by the way a Funeral Forest side project - was yet very raw, concerning its sound, these three tracks at this split release from the first have a better and riper impression. Deep in the spirit of Underground Black Metal is ringed in with Grim Misanthropy, a rough dragging piece. Both guitars and drumming handed slowly, merely the virulent distorted singing breathe this song vivacity into so Grim Misanthropy look sombre and oppressive. By Alone follows the longest track on this CD. After a short acoustic guitar intro Alone begins with a fast, catching-stomping beat maintaining for long time. Those rarely accompanying shrill riffs intensify this catching, moreover it's added with emphatic vocals. Previously in the sequel of Alone tempo changes appear but certainly don't modify its catching. First at the middle of this song real variation effects when quite acoustic guitars are listened as a tortured appearing voice is heard. Afterwards the songs pass over to fast; aggressive pushes, but still set high value on the initial catching. Corroded by Sickness also is a very long and known of the same name demo. A high dose of catching set here, too. Although Grimlair works up more melodies but strengthen this dark and anxious atmosphere.

First of all Hordagaard begins after their intro right powerful and slowly on Grimnorth. Despite the sluggish beat drumming is played right diversified. Later on Grimnorth totally gets facet fold, different rhythm changes are heard, vocals are changing and guitars come to the fore. Grimnorth is a catching strutured song that consists of several varied sections. Taakedans however starts intensely wrathful, a stomping and hollow beat, thereto loud screeching vocals and slow guitars that hardly are listened, because the dull drumming and the extreme screaming overtone the guitars. In the middle of this song it getting clearer, chorale vocals are heard and the kind of performing guitars and drums remember a little bit some Doom/Death Metal bands of early 1990ers - as Sempiternal Deathreign.

Pagan Spirit and Barbarian Blood derived from Funeral Forest's demo Barbarian Supremacy. Barbarian Blood is a matter of a short instrumental introduction. Pagan Spirit is a larger track where sluggish and furious passages alternate with quiet melodic parts. These type variations give the song its special atmosphere. On the one hand enraged by easy to grasp playing and adequate vocals, on the other side melancholically and depressed that is caused by certain melodies during the silent phases. Simerian Hate in deed is through and through wrathful, based structural as tonal. Warm and guttural singing, rumbling drumming with its changes from mid-tempo sluggish to catching fast passages and the right playful guitars suppress never ever something like melancholy. Simerian Hate is to alive and stirring grasping.

Ymber Autunus is a matter of a Brazilian group that already attracts me at the Burzum Tribute Attack. That positive impression is confirmed with those two songs could embrace as dark Black Metal. Em um solitano dia funeral starts silently and slowly, an extreme powerful drumming and a leisurely shrill guitar are heard. Later on a blood-curdling singing is setting in, which is extremely distorted and collecting. Unfortunately the vocals are mixed to loud because of almost over toning all other instruments. But the second part is different. Introduced by a quiet clear guitar a quasi-different song rises up being closer and more instrument fold as in the first half. A keyboard is heard and all instruments as vocals are mixed and recorded better. The second song of Ymber Autumnus is less gloomy and melancholic but more wrathful and reels have been mixed well though extremely loud performed vocals are still in focus.

Finally Deep in the spirit of Underground Black Metal are two contributions of Rabennacht. Odin's Dawn in induced of a warm, powerful drumming and - as Ymner Autumnus - extremely loud and intensive vocals. Odin's Dawn is structured clearly and the sluggish drumming beat invites to seesaw our feats. Compositionally the track is hold minimalist, there are just less variations but vocals are very atmospheric and remarkable. Untergang des Glaubens starts with a speed hammering drumming that retains for a while. Firstly at middle of this song rhythm is changing and getting sluggish, accompanying by slow dark melodies and a wonderful catching singing. Unfortunately the song isn't constituted from beginning, because this unnatural curious seeming drumming with its hammering beat carries off the beautiful atmosphere building up in centrepiece.

Deep in the spirit of Underground Black Metal is a very interesting split release of five right different bands all having the intensities and weaknesses. Especially Grimlair and Ymber Autumnus can contrast and you'd remember them in future. Published is this CDr in a 500 copies edition.


Review: Aceust
Translation: G.P.

GRIMLAIR
01. Grim misanthropy
02. Alone
03. Corroded by sickness

HORDAGAARD
04. Noregs iskalde (Intro)
05. Grimnorth
06. Taakedans

FUNERAL FOREST
07. Barbarians blood (Intro)
08. Pagan spirit
09. Simerian hate

YMBER AUTUMNUS
10. Alvorecer (Intro)
11. Lento exilio para os vales do esquecimento
12. Em um solitario dia funeral

RABENNACHT
13. Rabennacht (Intro)
14. Odin's dawn
15. Untergang des Glaubens


KRUTOSLAV PRODUCTIONS
HORDAGAARD
FUNERAL FOREST