While it is not uncommon for Black Metal bands to be duos, I cannot think of any others where both members are female, with this 2015 album comprising performances by Blitz (drums/vocals) and Vinterbarn (guitars/vocals) who are both also in Black Metal quartet Vae Tertium. The debut album was recorded and produced in Blackout Studio (Enthroned, Corpus Christii, Emptiness, Lvcifyre) with Phorgath (Emptiness, Enthroned, Hybrid Viscery and loads of sessions) behind the console, and there is no doubt he has had an impact on the overall sound as this never sounds like a modern BM album but instead something which came out of the scene in the Nineties when it was in its infancy.
Vocally this is an unusual element in that while we get the normal fair share of growls, we also get “normal” female vocals which certainly feels very much at odds with the accompaniment which is brutal and in your face. There is very much a demo feel to this, and one can imagine this being part of the cassette-trading scene from Sweden and Norway as opposed to a new CD released from a Southern German outfit which has been picked up by one of the major labels in the genre. I am a huge fan of Agonia Records who have been responsible for some awesome releases over the years, but this is not one of them as it is just too basic and while there is plenty of aggression there is just not enough variety or atmosphere to make this an essential release. The vocals do not work for me, and there is not enough in the musical layers to make this something to which I will rapidly return.
Rating: 6/10
