Yes, I know I’ve got a fuck-ton of new stuff to review, but since posting about Enshadowed in this thread on Metal Tavern (the thread idea was stolen from a Facebook page called All Things Metal \m/ – credit where credit’s due!), I’ve had the urge to post something about them… and I’m gonna do just that.
I picked up this album a few years ago and, for one reason or another, it keeps finding its way back into my regular playlist. Perhaps it’s the intense atmosphere (please forgive the pun)… Or, maybe it’s the constant battle between Death Metal and Black Metal that rages throughout the album? It doesn’t really matter what the reason is, all that matters is that it works.
Enshadowed are the kind of band that your mother warned you about – well, unless you have a mother like mine who just says things like “that’s nice, dear” upon hearing your favourite extreme metal releases…. in fact, I’m pretty sure that my mum’s a secret extreme metal fanatic… If I ever have to move back home I’m pretty sure I’ll find an impressive collection of rare Black Metal vinyl hidden away somewhere… it really wouldn’t surprise me… Ok, back to Enshadowed (focus, Lou! FOCUS!). These guys feel like the real deal. They don’t appear to be overly concerned with sticking to any particular genre – like I said before, there’s a constant shift between Black Metal and Death Metal here – they just play whatever they want to play. The freedom suggested here really shines through and creates a feeling of freshness on the album, in spite of it being several years old now.
Going back to that little genre battle…
It really is a battle. On “Intensity”, Black Metal and Death Metal are not playing nicely together; it’s all out WAR! Each genre fights for supremacy and neither one manages to hold onto it for more than a few moments. And that, dear reader, is what makes this album so damn exciting. Yes, exciting – not just interesting, not just entertaining – it’s fuckin’ EXCITING! I can almost feel the fire and brimstone gushing through my veins. It’s not a comfortable listening experience. It’s not something that can be thrown on in the background while you take a bubble bath (or whatever it is you choose to do). It demands your full attention from start to finish. 100% of the time.
I would make a list of stand out tracks, but that would be stupid since it’s a whole album of awesome… But, below you will find “Sunya Bindu” which should act as a bit of a taster:
Rating: 99%
How about another freebie???
In case you’re not familiar with the concept of “Freebie of the Week”, here’s a brief explanation… Each week I go on a little hunt through the vast wastelands of the Internet in search of FREE and LEGAL downloads. So, all of the downloads featured here will be obtainable through trustworthy means… and they’ll be guilt-free. For example, I will only ever feature music available from official band websites, profiles (such as MySpace, Reverbnation or Facebook) and Last.fm (or equivalent).
Unfortunately I wasn’t able to find out a whole lot about The Rain in Endless Fall. All I can say is that this track is fantastic and it’s available from BandCamp as a name your price download (so, it’s free or you can pay – it’s really up to you).
Info:
Ambient black metal that takes the listener to the abyss and back. Each cassette is hand-numbered, spray painted with the Sigil of Lucifer, and comes with a patch of the logo. Limited to 33 copies.
Features members of Blut Der Nacht
Line-Up:
No idea… members of Blut Der Nacht
I just found a load of FANTASTIC freebies, so I’m going to share them with you… perhaps not all in one go, but over the course of this week at least. Oh, in case you missed it, I have already posted up one freebie for you – click here to download some Frostwork.
In case you’re not familiar with the concept of “Freebie of the Week”, here’s a brief explanation… Each week I go on a little hunt through the vast wastelands of the Internet in search of FREE and LEGAL downloads. So, all of the downloads featured here will be obtainable through trustworthy means… and they’ll be guilt-free. For example, I will only ever feature music available from official band websites, profiles (such as MySpace, Reverbnation or Facebook) and Last.fm (or equivalent).
I’m currently listening to this EP right now… and I’m in awe. This is arse-spankingly good! Head over to Bandcamp to download it (it’s a name your price download, so you can send some money if you wish) or use the widget below:
Info:
Desolate Winds was imagined and formed by Æðelwulfing to create cold and vast soundscapes that trigger the imagination, Bringing feelings of coldness, Loss and Melancholy, Æðelwulfing then later recruited Heolstorcald to handle vocals because of his distinct vocal style that best represents the sound of Desolate Winds.
Line-Up:
Heolstorcald: All Vocals & Lyrics
Æðelwulfing: Guitars & Drums (Studio)
Angier: Guitars
Hrycgnorðan: Bass
Links:
facebook.com/pages/Desolate-Winds-Official/206872209325700
In case you’re not familiar with the concept of “Freebie of the Week”, here’s a brief explanation… Each week I go on a little hunt through the vast wastelands of the Internet in search of FREE and LEGAL downloads. So, all of the downloads featured here will be obtainable through trustworthy means… and they’ll be guilt-free. For example, I will only ever feature music available from official band websites, profiles (such as MySpace, Reverbnation or Facebook) and Last.fm (or equivalent).
I reviewed this EP a little while ago and I featured Dagon’s other project, Heathen Deity, as last week’s Freebie of the Week… I think it’s fair to say that I’m now a fully fledged Dagon fan. 
You can now grab Frostwork’s “The Rites of Winter” from Bandcamp as a name your price download… which, of course, means you can download it for free or you could throw some money in Dagon’s direction. He certainly deserves it. Anyway… you can grab the download by clicking here or you can use that lovely little Bandcamp widget below:
According to Frostwork’s Facebook page, the name your price download will only be available for a limited time – so get it while you can!!!
Info:
Frostwork is a solo project founded by Dagon ( Heathen Deity & Thornland ) in 2007 initially as a way of personal expressionism. Frostwork is progressively growing into a entity of cold unforgiving hate and atmosphere.
In 2008 Frostwork released the first demo “The Rites of Winter: The First Storm”.
In 2008 “Shades of Grey ” a track taken from The Rites Of Winter : The First Storm, Also appeared on the “Union Black” compilation of British black metal bands, released on Coup de Grace Records.
www.myspace.com/cdgrecordsReleased 02 June 2012 was “Forsvunnet Filosofem – A Tribute to Burzum” on which Frostwork contributed the track “Dunkelheit”
“Frozen Veins Shed No Blood” is the first track to be released, that will be featured on the new Cd ” Lore Of Winter : Ealdspell ” which
will be available later this year.Dagon is currently finalising the next Frostwork release at his home studio in Derbyshire, England.
Line-Up:
Dagon – everything
Links:
facebook.com/frostworkofficial
frostwork.bandcamp.com
myspace.com/frostworkuk
reverbnation.com/frostwork
last.fm/music/Frostwork
soundcloud.com/frostwork
