Throne of Katarsis - Norwegian Black Metal

REVIEWS

>> Reviews of Unholy Holocaustwinds
>> Reviews of An Eternal Dark Horizon

MUSIC SAMPLES

>> Funeral Moonlight
taken from Unholy Holocaustwinds
>> Symbols of Winter
taken from Unholy Holocaustwinds

REVIEWS OF UNHOLY HOLOCAUSTWINDS

By Tribalchemy of Demonic Horde

Throne of Katharsis is a Black Metal band from South East Norway that formed in 2002.
The band is composed of 2 members: Valdalv (drums), and Grimnisse (guitars, bass, vocals), who gathered to play aggressive and grim Black Metal inspired by Norwegian Black Metal acts from the 90's.
'Unholy Holocaustwind', released in 2004, is the first output of the band that already spread 40 copies at the Inferno festival this year. This Demo is composed of 3 long and varied tracks of grim and primitive Black Metal, deepened by marked acoustic guitar lines, depressive screams and intense atmospheres.
The first 'Funeral Moonlight' is a track long of 11 minutes composed of several parts and shortly opened by solemn organ tones. The track goes on with a raw and primitive black Metal tune raised by a sustained drumming, vivid saturated riffs, and sparse, low vocals tones that increase the grim atmospheres.
The fast tempo is enlivened by dissonant melodies stressed by backing acoustic lines, that let place to a slower part marked by more strangled vocals, slower riffs stressed by the rhythmic drumming, ending in a fast instrumental part. An atmospheric passage slowly arises, shaped by the guest noises of a chain and a slight acoustic melody, replaced by a melancholic part darkened by slower riffs thickened by furtive acoustic lines and yet tragic vocal screams.
A sustained mid tempo marks the second 'Symbols of Winter', a black metal track long of 9 minutes marked with a contained sound, intense atmospheres and more prominent screamed vocals. The rawer parts are raised by sharp guitar lines that stress the main instrumentation, shorter higher riffs and vivid drum beats.
A depressive feel emanates from the whole track, played in a cold and intense Black Metal style, that reminds at times of older Judas Iscariot, Immortal even Infernum, especially in the solid yet low vocal style and the faster instrumental parts pierced by sparse screams, slower melancholic lulls, furtive clear male vocals even slight acoustic notes that take over the outro.
The last 'Skogens Kall' is an instrumental even ambient track that plunges us in a walk through the forest. The main guest noises of steps in graver are thickened by an ethereal backing melody and low yet whispered spoken vocals.
Throne of Katharsis present here a promising Demo, alternating primitive and forceful Black Metal with darker tones, the whole is moreover ensured with a good sound and a sure originality. The white CDr is presented in a bare layout, though with complete Black/White xeroxed inserts and info.

By Britton Dicks of Metal Coven (8.5 out of 10)

What's this, then? A raw underproduced low fi black metal album that I actually like? Nah... no... that can't be! I hate these kinds of amateurish musical ventures, don't I? I don't like the raw productions these albums have, right? Well, 99% of the time that is true, but with their newest album "Holy Holocaustwinds" Norway's Throne Of Katarsis have released a raw black metal album with bad production that I enjoy to the fullest.

So what sets this album that I love apart from all of the other low-fi black metal albums that I hate with a passion? Well, for one this band knows how to play their instruments, so that's a start. This is extremely raw and primal black metal akin to a lot of those early 90's black metal albums that came out, but it's well played and there's quite a few acoustic guitar parts mixed in to give the music a unique and even more epic feeling. The tempo of the music ranges from mostly a fast as hell blast beat fury to a sometimes used slower and more grandiose sound. Don't get me wrong, these guys aren't the most talented musicians I've ever heard, but they are good and know how to make all of their different elements come together into something that is pleasing to the ear. This scenario kind of reminds me of Venom who also was full of musicians no one considered great, but who came together to make an overall sound that was undeniably awesome. I must say the shining aspect of this music is when the black metal is being played full speed and that acoustic guitar kicks in over top of everything. Truly unique in the way that they do it and I hope this is an aspect that never leaves this band. The last track on this album, "Skogen's Kall", is also cool as hell even though it's not metal at all. This track is sort of an ambient affair with just creepy keyboards droning in the background and a few grim vocals here and there. These musical elements highlight the main focus of the song which is the footsteps crunching their way through the snow of a forest. That's all this song is is five minutes of someone walking through the snow while keyboards and a few vocals take the backseat. You can hear a few birds chirp here and there also. Sounds so simple, but believe me it is cool as hell to hear. This just proves further that while this band is not full of master musicians, they know how to set a certain mood and create an atmosphere that makes you want to pay attention until the very end of the CD.

The vocals are very reminiscent to the vocals found on Mayhem's "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas", and are done quite well even though they sound a bit childish in spots. The lyrics were not included with the promo, so I can't really comment on the lyrical content, but to me they seem to revolve around the nature of Norway. That's probably one of the many reasons I like this album so much as I'm into nature as well.

The production... is pretty bad. I know for a fact that the band tried for this kind of subpar production on purpose, and maybe in this case this style of production helped the album's atmosphere along. It says in the promo flyer that came with the CD that the first two tracks were recorded on the North Sea on a four track recorder in eight hours, so you can tell from that the sound is going to be pretty bad. I wonder if that means they recorded on a boat or something? Anyway, the third track was recorded partly in the Liarlund Forest, so this is probably where they recorded the footsteps in the snow sounds. While the acoustic guitar parts I like a lot, the bad production puts them WAY out in front of everything else. I mean, when the acoustic guitar is playing, it is louder than the drums, bass and vocals put together.

The layout and packaging of the album is nothing to brag about at all. I was sent what seems like the original cover booklet and disc tray insert, but they are just Xerox copies in black and white. I don't know if this is how the actual CD packaging is or if these were just Xeroxed for promotional purposes or what. The cover is just a photo of the two band members and the band logo, which reminds me a lot of Ancient Wisdom's logo for some reason. The disc tray insert is a lot more interesting and shows a wide landscape scene of Norway on one side and a rather neat cemetery on the other.

In all of my metal listening years, I've come across maybe ten total black metal albums with this raw production that I've liked, but I'll definitely be adding "Holy Holocaustwinds" to that short list based on the fact that they know how to create a mesmerizing atmosphere that kept me interested up to the end. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised after a few listens that this album ranks at or close to my number one favorite raw black metal album of all time. Try and seek this album out, people. You won't be sorry you did, especially if you're already into this elite form of black metal.

By Veles Webzine

Lets hail this duo from west-coast forests of Norway! Very depressive atmosphere floes among this release. Two guys - Vardalv and Grimnisse created such horroric and evil black metal only by them. But I think that this whole demo could be influenced by only Grimnisse, because he does almost all music, vocal keys and guitar things. Although I can name him as a fucking great artist, because he managed to create such dark and depressive music almost by his own might. Whole their music is influenced by old metal warriors as Darkthrone, Burzum, old Bathory,Mayhem and Satyricon. But Throne of Katarsis has their own touch for it. This release contains only 3 tracks but they all are quite long. It shows that these guys knows how to play. Not everyone are able to create 10 minutes song. Infernal screams fits very good with antichristian misanthripic lyrics. Fast drumming of Vardalv and Grimnisses christcrushing riffs makes this release more and more misanthropic and evil. But at the same time the is a touch of melody created by Grimnisses acoustic guitar. That creates a very strong atmosphere! The last track is also fucking great piece of dark ambient in the vein of Vinterriket or Burzum. But it has its own sound and atmosphere. Really killer album!

By Arve of The Metal Observer

From the West coast of Norway comes this duo calling themselves THRONE OF KATARSIS. Grimnisse does everything but the drums, which are handled by a guy using Vardalv as a pseudonym. THORNE OF KATARSIS are performing Black Metal in the vein of the early Norwegian Black Metal bands. One of the myths in the world of Metal is that all Norwegian Black Metal bands have turned gay. Once again I would like to urge those people clamining this to look for music that they like instead of repeating the same shit over and over again. THRONE OF KATARSIS is a clear proof that not every Black Metal band in Norway thinks the same way.

"Unholy Holocaustwinds" starts with the sounds of a Church organ and something I suppose is meant to be a priest saying: "La Oss Alle Be" (Which translates to: "Let Us All Pray"). After these words a storm of Black Metal is unleashed. In the tradition of the early Norwegian Black Metal bands the demo is recorded in a minimum of time and also with primitive recording gear. In fact it was recorded out in the North Sea where both Grimnisse and Vardalv worked at the time of recording. The recording took only 8 hours, which gives DARKTHRONE a run for their money. After you've read this you probably understand that the sound quality on "Unholy Holocaustwinds" isn't exactly what we call hi-fi, but who gives a fuck as long as it fits the music.

Even though it's recorded quickly, every instrument and the vocals, are balanced very good, ensuring that nothing gets muted. When you are making songs that passes the 10 minute mark ("Funeral Moonlight"), without becoming tedious and boring, then you know how to write good music. My honours go to Grimnisse who is responsible for the music found on "Unholy Holocaustwinds". He also has great vocals that are almost a blueprint in the kind of dedication that's essential if you want to be a good Extreme Metal vocalist. In the beginning of "Funeral Moonlight" he sounds like Attila (MAYHEM, ABORYM), it definitively sounds as perverse as the throat sounds this crazy Hungarian makes. I assume that this will be taken as compliment by Mr. Grimnisse.

What takes the thrill out of many of the Old School Black Metal band I've heard so far, is sloppy drumming. Fortunately "Unholy Holocaustwinds" are chemical free from sloppy drumming. For those who can stand the drummers who really shouldn't be it, enjoy your BURZUM and JUDAS ISCHARIOT, I'll stick to THRONE OF KATARSIS instead. The quality of the musicians ensures us a varied attack of Black Metal. "Unholy Holocaustwinds" contains themes as diverse as blasting drums and calm acoustic guitar playing. First and foremost, however, THRONE OF KATARSIS plays Black Metal and nothing but Black Metal.

THRONE OF KATARSIS are currently in the making of their first full length album. If the songs on that one holds the same quality as the songs on this demo it will turn out to be a great record. Check out the mp3 samples that are found in this review to hear how this duo performs. Fans of old GORGOROTH and old IMMORTAL would be wise to give THRONE OF KATARSIS a listen, this is Black Metal the way I like it. (Online July 26, 2005)

By AJ Blisten of Scream Magazine

Noen bedriver musikalske renselsesprosesser i Kopervik. De som gj�r det, kaller seg hver for seg Vardalf og Grimnisse, og sammen Throne of Katarsis. Og de katarsiske prosessene skjer gjennom grim og gammeldags black metal slik den p� mange m�ter var i sin opprinnelige form her til lands i begynnelsen av nitti�rene. Demoen vi har f�tt fra karene heter "Unholy holocaustwinds" og inneholder 3 l�ter. De har den rette stemningen og uttrykket i b�de musikk og vokal, og et av trekkene ved l�tene er innslag av blant annet akustiske partier som er med p� � gi l�tene et avbrekk fra det tradisjonelle primitive black metal-riffm�nsteret. Bandet gj�r sine ting helt etter boka og er slett ingen begredelig representant for den nye old school b�lgen. Jeg har lite � utsette p� det Kopervik musikerne gj�r, og regner med at Throne of Katarsis har mer p� lager og at de fortsetter med � veve litt s�re og stemningsoppbyggende ting inn i l�tene slik de har gjort det p� denne demoen. Mange vil kanskje reagere p� mangel av musikk og overvekt av nettopp s�re lydinnslag p� den siste l�ten p� denne demoen, men skal man utmerke seg i en genre med stadig flere mer eller mindre gode band, b�r man ta noen sjanser. Og det synes jeg disse gutta skal ha kreditt for.

By Ruben of Eternal Terror

Orgelmusikk etterfulgt av ordene �la oss be�, slik starter demoen til norske Throne of Katarsis. Men der stopper da ogs� alt det som er �hellig� med denne demoen, for etter at disse ord er talt er det kun u-hellig svartmetall som gjelder. Duoen bak dette bandet kaller seg for �vrig Vardalv (trommer) og Grimnisse (resten) (noen bedre?) og dette er deres f�rste demo siden starten i 2002.
I skrivet som f�lger med skriver de at basisen i musikken er inspirert av norsk svartmetall fra tidlig- til midten av 90-tallet og dette kommer da ogs� klart fram i musikken til bandet. Demoen inneholder 2 l�ter og 1 sn�l sak best�ende av synth, hvisking og tramping i sn�en fra Liarlundskogen. De 3 sporene er kalt: �Funeral Moonlight�, �Symbols of Winter� og �Skogens Kall�
Jeg skal med en gang innr�mme at jeg lar meg sjarmere av sortmetallen til disse kara for det er slettes ikke dumt dette. Verken lyd eller produksjon er av det beste jeg har h�rt, da de to l�tene er spilt inn p� en 4-spors kassettspiller, men lyden er blitt kald og passer i grunn uhellighetene p� denne demoen godt! Her g�r det b�de fort unna og i mindre tempo og de er gode til dette � veksle p� tempoet, god variasjon (i tempoet) heter det vel. Ellers er det veldig kaldt og grimt og vokalist (og altmuligmann) Grimnisse har en sinnsykt r� og grim vokal. De har virkelig lykkes med � f� fram den kalde feelingen som vi liker innen denne typen svartmetall, ikke alle som klarer det! De har ogs� krydret det hele med akustisk gitar og av den f�r jeg skikkelig �Dark Medieval Times� feeling av. Lyden er lik og det er flott fremf�rt, utrolig bra jobba der! Til alle dere som liker deres svartmetall bra, sjekk ut Throne of Katarsis, dette er fett!!! Eneste ankepunkt er �Skogens Kall� som jeg ikke ser helt poenget med�

Throne of Katarsis er et nytt spennende norsk bekjentskap innen u-hellig norsk svartmetall.

By Steinar Selst� of Heavy Metal.no

Dette er et tomannsprosjekt best�ende av Vardalv og Grimnisse, hvor sistnevnte tar seg av det meste med unntak av trommingen. �Unholy holocaustwinds� er deres f�rste demo, spilt inn p� v�rparten. De 3 l�tene er spilt inn ulike steder, bl.a. har man v�rt ute i Liarlund skogen og tatt opp lydeffekter. Det er old-school black vi snakker om her ja��

Det er som sagt old-school bandet spiller, og naturlige referanser er da selvf�lgelig band som Darkthrone og eldre Mayhem . Etter min mening finnes det veldig mye kjedelig innen denne typen musikk, men Throne of katarsis kommer hederlig fra dette. Man spiller p� klisjeene, men s� lenge det gj�res s�pass godt skader vel ikke det.

Den 11 minutter lange f�rstel�ta �pner med en sampling fra en gudstjeneste f�r det smeller i gang. Dermed er i alle fall all tvil satt til side om hva slags metal dette er.
Det er kjapt og stygt, b�de l�tmessig og produksjonsmessig. Riffene pumpes ut i h�yt tempo, vokalen minner mye om Attila Csihars, og n�r det hele er tatt opp med en 4-spors kassettspiller er det vel innlysende hvordan lyden er.
Det som kanskje gj�r at jeg ser p� Throne of katarsis som et relativt spennende band, er at de t�r � kj�re p� med litt andre elementer her og der, men slettes ikke for ofte. P� �pningsl�ta raser det av g�rde i dr�ye 3 minutter f�r man plutselig legger p� litt akustisk gitar opp� alt det andre. (Bare s� synd at det ikke funker lydmessig. Med denne miksen l�ter kassegitaren helt j�vlig.)
Litt seinere i l�ta dukker plutselig et veldig Slayer -inspirert riff opp som troll i eske og gir l�ta en ny dimensjon. Dette partiet varer i et par minutter, f�r man igjen dundrer l�s med kompromissl�s sort metall. Etter 7 minutter fader l�ta ut og man tror kanskje at det hele er over, men den gang ei. Et akustisk parti tar over kun akkompagnert av lydeffekter som h�res ut som rasling med kjetting. Det hele er en oppbygging til mer sortmetall, men denne gang i lavere tempo og med mer melodi�se riff. Faktisk er det vel egentlig vel s� mye doom som black i denne avslutningsfasen. Selv om l�ta varer i over 11 minutter, uten � spille p� altfor mange temaer, kjeder jeg meg ikke. Kanskje fordi sangen er satt sammen av s�pass ulike partier.

Andrel�ta ut er ogs� en lang aff�re med sine nesten 9 minutter. Her �pner det med stemningsfull og m�rk sortmetall, som faktisk minner meg litt om Primordial i starten p.g.a. de svevende og episke riffene. Etter hvert g�r l�ta over i de mer tradisjonelle necro-riffene.
L�ta er ellers mer dynamisk enn den f�rste. Her er ikke s� store krumspring eller skifter i tempoet, men sangen funker allikevel godt den. Bl.a. m� jeg si at vokalarbeidet her er virkelig t�ft. Det l�ter slik det skal gj�re av old-school black, og en viss variasjon viser den godeste Grimnisse fram ogs�.

Siste spor ut er demoens korteste; heldigvis, da det er ogs� er det d�rligste. Bandet har v�rt ute i skauen og laget opptak av fotspor i sn�, som ligger der hele veien. Opp� dukker det tidlig opp noe synth, og en snakkende vokal. Riktig s� stemningsfullt og dystert l�ter det her. Etter hvert er det bare fotsporene vi h�rer, og det hele blir litt blodfattig og kjedelig. Litt flere ideer kunne godt v�rt inkorporert her.

Alt i alt en lovende demo dette etter mine �rer.