Barathrum - Legions of Perkele (1998)

I'd always heard that Barthrum's fourth record, 'Legions of Perkele' was a turning point in the bands career to a more cleaner, more mature and faster rockin' sound. Ideally, I would own those first three albums so I wouldn't even have to open this review with such rot, but they've never been re-released and they tend to go on eBay for obnoxious amounts of money. Whatever.

After a short intro, 'Revenge by Magick' comes fourth from my speakers and it becomes vividly clear through this cut and the following song 'Angelburner' that Demonos Sova and minions set out to create one of the most appealing fist pumping, sing-a-long, headbanging and beer swigin' records ever committed to tape. Anathemalignant's guitar work is furiously catchy and well played mid-paced work with infectious riffs galore, while the heavy bass guitar work of both Demonos and G'thaur adds a thick heaviness that accents both the guitar and Demonos' raspy howls perfectly.

I love the way, 'Dark Sorceress (Autumn Siege)' starts out on a slower darker note, but just becomes groovy and memorable as all fuck, while 'Last Day In Heaven' is an instant banger. 'The Force of Evil' opens with a superb main riff and interesting male crooning that comes and goes throughout this mostly slower tune. The title track in particular is my favorite as it opens with a simple bass riff and an odd spoken part and seems casual from there but at nearly the two minute mark the action heats up and I swear one of the coolest, most headbangable and rockin' riffs ever wrote rears its ugly face from the pits of Hell. The lyrics are also admirable and semi-autobiographical and fan appreciative in character. The last two songs are technically bonus tracks as they are re-recordings from the 'Hailstorm' and 'Infernal' records. Both are great, but 'Warmetal' in particular is one of raddest songs this side of Perkele, with insane amounts of energy and enduring riffs, this song is simply masterful in its skull splitting devastating delivery. "Black, Destroyer, Master, Of Fire, Greatest, Warrior, Demon, On The Earth... Warmetal... Warmetal... WARMETAL!!!"

Its my plan to acquire everything Barathrum created from this point onwards and have some sort of drunken Barathrum shindig since this records just begs for it and much of what I've heard after these days has the same vibe. In any case, hold the horns high, take a swig of your favorite ale and put your arm around your metal buddies - We are part of Legions of Perkele!