Neithan: The debut review (‘The Invocation Of Demise’) which we put online a few months ago was actually a re-release. At that time the band had signed to Metal Blade and thus the album was being re-released. On its debut, this band with a link to mighty Ondskapt, displayed a sound that was typical Swedish black metal in the veins of old IXXI, Dark Funeral and consorts. Now that the band has signed to a major label like Metal Blade the question is whether they can come up to the expectations, since the facilities must have been much better this time of recording: we’ll see about that.
Recorded once again in the same studio (Necromorbus) and with the same producer (Tore Stjerna) my first expectation is that ‘Contamination’will not differ that much from the debut: well, when listening to the album two things strike me. First of all there is the massive and dynamic production (especially the drums sound much better on this one) and the overwhelming intensity. The sound is more sharp, yet also a bit less dark because of the production. The music is still overwhelming Swedish black metal, but it also conveys a similar feeling of rage as their neighbors of Koldbrann have (and as a Koldbrann-fan I don’t mind!). The record brings plenty of variation, whether it concerns furious ragers like ‘Welcomong Worms’ or menacing headbangers like ‘Solstice In Withdrawal’ and all that fits in in between. The band goes beyond the usual simple riffing, which is for instance clearly shown in mighty ‘Catharsis (Contiminate The Earth)’ and the lead sporadically present on this album. These guys know how to write and perform metal!
‘Contamination’ is a good album, yet just a bit short to create their entrance in the Champions League of black metal, but these guys are making their way to that position slowly. Regarding such I refer to the term “Opel metal” I use in the case of German bands: quality without surprises. As such this can be entitled “Volvo metal”: thorough, reliable and in case of a Volvo 740 crushing without mercy. Actually the band does just what I expected, without any sheer surprise. Nevertheless ‘Contamination’is an album compulsory to those who love Swedish true black metal!
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