Unholy Black Metal
  • Gallery
  • Contact

“The Three Transcendental Keys” by Throne of Katarsis: excellent Norwegian black metal

17/8/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
The Norwegian act Throne of Katarsis is one of the few bands of the recent era to have produced something that can be considered “True Norwegian Black Metal”, even though in a very personal key. After the excellent performance of Ved graven in 2011, the quartet from Kopervik, Rogaland,released in 2013 their fourth album The Three Transcendental Keys. 

The three transcendental keys of the title are the three songs of which the album consists. Yes, because the album includes only three songs of which the shortest one lasts more than 11 minutes, for a total playtime of 47 minutes.

As one can well understand, The Three Transcendental Keys is not the easiest album to approach to and someone might turn up their noses. While the sound may be true, so long songs are not in the tradition of the Norwegian black metal. The sound is raw and harsh, and the reverb of the guitars makes me think of the blackest albums by Darkthrone. The Three Transcendental Keys is more melodic compared to the previous albums by Throne of Katarsis; I think the most important innovation is the use of very slow, almost drone riffs that help to make the atmosphere of the album thickly obscure and psychotic. Of course there are plenty of blast beats. The structure of the songs, as one can imagine, is very complex and this sometimes impairs the ability to engage the listener. The style of the singing has partially changed; alongside the traditional scream, singer Infamroth also uses hoarse and penetrating vocals.

The texts deal with satanism and occultism; as suggested by the title, the lyrics are sometimes constructed prayers: “May wisdom's spell guide thee. / May knowledge’s spell bind thee”.

All in all, an excellent album in Norwegian style.

Notes:
The Three Transcendental Keys was released on October 18, 2013 on Candlelight as CD and on Blut & Eisen Productions as LP.

Ttracklist:
1.The First Transcendental Key: Of Rituals (and Astral Spells)
2. The Second Transcendental Key: Beyond the Specters
3. The Third Transcendental Key: In Timeless Aspects


11:22
15:28
20:25
47:15
Personnel:
Vardalv - Drums
Infamroth - Guitars, Bass, Keyboards, Vocals
Sanrabb - Bass
Skinndød - Guitars 
Text by Herjann
herjann@unholyblackmetal.com
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013

Unholy Black Metal zine