Back To The Land Of The Dead

Ancient was my intro to Black Metal, beyond what may have played on WKNC 88.1's Chainsaw Rock before I cared for the genre, I picked 2 different comps (Metalmeister Vol 1 & Metal Massacre 12), with a song from Cainian Chronicle & Svartalvheim respectively. In the intervening years I've delved into more KVLT & TR00 bands but as a primer for the genre, they have everything except the danger. Sonically similar to Immortal but much slower, with an emphasis on thrashy, memorable riffs & tasteful guitar solos.The big draw for me this time is the presence of Nick Barker on drums, (ex-CoF/Dimmu Borgir/Old Man's Child; all bands Ancient have been compared to & unfairly pilloried for perceived similarities). Having been in the band since 2009, I was expecting a much faster, blastier performance, but his playing is lock(up) tight. Been a long time since hearing him play, and in the intervening years heard so much busier drumming but he is tighter than something Trump would grab nonetheless. Aphazel's voice has never sounded better.The album gets better as it goes along, personally not delivering until track 3. I could take or leave the first 2 songs, just basic Black Metal 101 & the Bathory cover is superfluous. Should've released those as an EP, imo. Would've loved to have hard some rerecorded older tracks, whether studio or live.Best track: Occlude The Gates.

GREAT

A1

glad to see that the legends are back

Ich liebe die Band! Und kann nichts negatives über jedes Album sagen. Und jetzt nach so langer Pause so ein Grandioses Album. Das ist schon der Hammer. Es ist einfach Typisch Ancient genau so wie man es haben will und worüber man sich immer wieder freut wenn man die LP auf den Plattenteller legt.

je connais ce groupe depuis leur début, ils sont parmi l'élite du black métal scandinave, et cet album avec Nicolas Barker aux fut une tuerie Aucune hésitation à avoir les ambiances valent celle des premiers album et les riffs de grattes quelles splendeur Top of the top