Urgehal – Aeons In Sodom

[schema type=”review” name=”Urgehal – Aeons In Sodom ” description=”Label: Season of Mist” author=”Basak Günel” pubdate=”2016-02-12″ ]

Urgehal is a black metal band from Norway. Formed in 1992, the band has been delivering the raw black metal sound since the very beginning. They have released six full-length albums so far. As some of the fans know, the frontman Trondr Nefas has passed away in 2012 at the age of 35 so this album is quite unique as it’s the last album of the band. Nefas has started composing the record before his death and the band collaborated with other artists to say goodbye for the last time to the fans… Here comes “Aeons In Sodom”.

“Come on, you fuckers! Come on! It’s now or never! Fuck you all! We are URGEHAL and we are here to fucking destroy you!”

You know that the album is gonna kick ass when you hear these words from Nefas in the first song. Even after his death, Urgehal has managed to continue with the legacy and do what they do best; brutal, straight-forward and dark black metal! Be it the vocals or the riffs, the album will keep you on the hook and respect Urgehal’s work and what they want to deliver since the beginning once more. It’s not so often that I get to listen to such a unique black metal record and I have been beyond impressed since I listened to it for the first time. There’s something just magical about it; it’s definitely from the heart and this time it feels more ‘emotional’ of course for certain reasons.

One highlight of the record is the versatility definitely. Throughout the record, we get to hear different musicians as they blend in their own style to the songs. Some known names can be heard; Nocturno Culto (Darkthrone) in “The Iron Children” ,  Hoest (Taake) on “The Sulphur Black Haze”, Niklas Kvarforth (Shining) in “Norwegian Blood and Crystal Lakes”… and Nattefrost (Carpathian Forest) in “Endetid”.. These are just a few though… The album is a lot more than that and one thing is for sure; the style that each musician brings and the authentic Urgehal sound make a a great combination! There are also two surprise cover songs which didn’t attract me as much as the rest of the album but surprises are nice!

Brutal, straightforward and dark as hell… For the last time, Urgehal says goodbye to the listeners. It’s a great goodbye indeed and they will never be forgotten! Get the album and keep the flames burning!

RIP Trondr Nefas.

Line-up (recording):
Trondr Nefas –  guitar solos
Enzifer – guitars, bass
Uruz –  drums

Guest musicians:
Nocturno Culto (DARKTHRONE) –  vocals on #2
M. Shax (ENDEZZMA) –  vocals and lyrics on #3 and lyrics on #5
Byron Braidwood (MONUMENTOMB) –  guitar solo on #3
Hoest (TAAKE) –  vocals on #4
Mannevond (KOLDBRANN) –  vocals on #5 , bass on #12
Malphas (ENDEZZMA/HAGL) –  guitar solo on  #5 and #12
Niklas Kvarforth (SHINING) –  vocals on #6
Sorath Northgrove (BEASTCRAFT/VULTURE LORD) –  vocals and lyrics on #7
Nattefrost (CARPATHIAN FOREST) –  vocals and lyrics on #8
Skyggen (TORTORUM) –  guitar solo track on #8
Nag (TSJUDER) – vocals on #9
Diabolus (VULTURE LORD) – guitar solos on #9
L.F.F (ANGST SKVADRON/TUSMØRKE/THREE WINTERS) – keyboards on #10
Bay Cortez (SADISTIC INTENT) – vocals and bass on #11
Rick Cortez (SADISTIC INTENT) – guitar solo on #11
R.M (ANGST SKVADRON) – vocals on #12

Tracklist: 01. Dodsrite 02. The Iron Children 03. Blood of the Legion 04. The Sulphur Black Haze 05. Lord of Horns 06. Norwegian Blood and Crystal Lakes 07. Thy Daemon Incarnate 08. Endetid 09. Psychedelic Evil 10. Woe 11. Funeral Rites (Sepultura cover) 12. Twisted Mass of Burnt Decay (Autopsy cover)

Links:
Urgehal Bandcamp