From Stockholm, Sweden, IXXI (read 9/11) were formed in 2006 and have so far released four albums, the last of which is Skulls n Dust (2014). The previous album Elect Darkness dates back to 2009 and was released through Candlelight; it delivers eerie black metal influenced by Mayhem and recognizable Swedish sounds, with a grim performance on vocals by Totalscorn. A misfortune happened to this band in 2011: guitarist Nattdal died of an overdose after singer Totalscorn had left the band.
With a new lineup, with Outlaw taking over Totalscorn, the band has moved towards a death/thrash metal approach which is still very well blended in the atmosphere of Skulls n Dust. You will hardy find the usual tremolo riffs and the blast beats that are so much abused in black metal; a trademark of IXXI’s new sound is the riff accompanied by a harmonic. The rhythm is not generally high paced, but the result is an album that will make you inevitably nod in time with black metal.
The scores are very well performed, and the work of drummer Smoker is particularly remarkable. The production is very accurate, after all we are talking about a band Osmose Productions’ stable; I really appreciate the choice of a “thick” sound, so to speak, that I find appropriate to the genre of this band. As you can guess from the name of the band, terrorism, but also warfare, are the main lyrical themes; there is even a certain interesting use of rhyme in the texts:
“Laws of war never apply, I just want everybody to die
You’ll see in my gaze, the world ablaze
The dispersion for desperation, this is my death manifestation
I lust for cessation of the deceased humanity and curse society with all it’s profanity” (from “Warmonger”).
Satanism is also addressed, as in “G.P.S.D.”.
In short, Skulls n Dust by IXXI is a good and compelling album, characterized by quite a personal style personal. Listen to it!
Notes:
Release date: January 9 2014 on Osmose Productions. The digital album can be purchased through the Bandcamp player below for 7 euros.
Tracklist:
1. Skulls n Dust
2. Warmonger
3. G.P.S.D.
4. Soiled Soul
5. Necrocracy
6. Original Sin
7. 21st Century Regicide
8. Bounded by Blood
9. B
Personnel:
Acerbus: guitars, bass
Smoker: drums, percussion
Outlaw: vocals
Guest musicians:
Nebiros: vocals (track 4)
S.W.: guitars (tracks 4, 9)
Core: bass (tracks 1, 4)
Text by Herjann
herjann@unholyblackmetal.com
With a new lineup, with Outlaw taking over Totalscorn, the band has moved towards a death/thrash metal approach which is still very well blended in the atmosphere of Skulls n Dust. You will hardy find the usual tremolo riffs and the blast beats that are so much abused in black metal; a trademark of IXXI’s new sound is the riff accompanied by a harmonic. The rhythm is not generally high paced, but the result is an album that will make you inevitably nod in time with black metal.
The scores are very well performed, and the work of drummer Smoker is particularly remarkable. The production is very accurate, after all we are talking about a band Osmose Productions’ stable; I really appreciate the choice of a “thick” sound, so to speak, that I find appropriate to the genre of this band. As you can guess from the name of the band, terrorism, but also warfare, are the main lyrical themes; there is even a certain interesting use of rhyme in the texts:
“Laws of war never apply, I just want everybody to die
You’ll see in my gaze, the world ablaze
The dispersion for desperation, this is my death manifestation
I lust for cessation of the deceased humanity and curse society with all it’s profanity” (from “Warmonger”).
Satanism is also addressed, as in “G.P.S.D.”.
In short, Skulls n Dust by IXXI is a good and compelling album, characterized by quite a personal style personal. Listen to it!
Notes:
Release date: January 9 2014 on Osmose Productions. The digital album can be purchased through the Bandcamp player below for 7 euros.
Tracklist:
1. Skulls n Dust
2. Warmonger
3. G.P.S.D.
4. Soiled Soul
5. Necrocracy
6. Original Sin
7. 21st Century Regicide
8. Bounded by Blood
9. B
Personnel:
Acerbus: guitars, bass
Smoker: drums, percussion
Outlaw: vocals
Guest musicians:
Nebiros: vocals (track 4)
S.W.: guitars (tracks 4, 9)
Core: bass (tracks 1, 4)
Text by Herjann
herjann@unholyblackmetal.com