Abigor – “Opus 4”
As soon as the first track opens, “Crimson Horizons and Ashen Skies”, you know that they perform black metal. I think this band is from Austria. At any rate, they do not have the “Norwegian Sound”. Sure, the speed is hectic and the voice is similar to IMMORTAL, SATYRICON, etc.. but for example, the second song, “Eerie Constellation”, has more than just speed going for it. ABIGORS music is actually not very complex, but somehow in between the raging violence of songs you’ll find sounds of acoustic melodies lurking in the background. Not being just speed oriented, there are mid-paced moments which allows the band expand into some catchy melodies, while the drummer is doing something more than just abusing his cymbals. The double-bass mixes well the mid-paced sections of a song like, ” A Breath from Worlds Beyond”. In fact, this song actually slows down for a few moments. Some how this whole (of course you have to hear it because words cannot effectively describe the sound) song evolves into a pretty atmospheric, yet aggressive and fast exercise. The first four songs are under the title, “Horns Lurk Beyond the Stars”, then the last four songs come under, “Blut aus Aeonen”. These last four songs are rawer and a bit more speed freak than the ones from the “Horns…” E. P. Any ways, the above description and review is pretty much the same for both releases. About the only difference in sound and quality, “Blut…” has more of a “we-have-to-do-this-quickly-in-the-studio” feel. Anyway, this has some cool stuff.