Tenebrous - Arias Towards The Black Sun (2005/2007)

Back in 2005 Deathgasm released what I thought could have been a truly great album of black metal by Tenebrous. Encased in a beautiful digipak, I believed at the time that the music was truly outstanding, but the production held back the monster instead of unleashing it.

Fast forward to 2007 and you will find that there is a re-issue of this album. No longer available in the digipak format, the regular CD case still looks good enough and the inside contents are what make it an instant hit.

Listening to this CD in its new mix is like removing your hands from someone who you are smothering. The sound immediately comes to life and instead of a muffled and dangerously monotonous sound, the entire CD now spreads its wings and proudly presents them to your ears.

In case you have not heard this music, this is to me an almost perfect blend of old and new school black metal which is full of atmosphere, full of hate and that finally sounds the way you hear these pieces in a live concert. You can distinguish touches of Wrath of the Tyrant-era Emperor, Leviathan and perhaps Darkthrone, but at the same time the works have a distinct and very personal character that goes in perfect alignment with some of the new black metal groups. Some of the songs are incredibly catchy and you cannot help but nod with the song's rhythms and pulsating notes. The vocals are incredibly incisive and infectious. The guitar fills and rhythms are also very harsh, cold and utterly grim, and with the new mix they come to the forefront and make the music sound more evil and ever potent. The drumming, in my opinion is exceptional; furious blasting, various patterns, rolls and cymbal crashes make the songs all the more engaging.

I should mention that in addition to the new sound on the CD, there is an excellent cover of Graveland's, 'Unpunished Herd' which curiously did not get pushed before the outro. My guess is that the band wanted to keep the feel of the original album and simply add this after their destruction is over. If you have never heard of this band I suggest you definitely check them out. If you already have the digipak you will be amazed at the difference the mix makes in the overall sound.

The band would go on to release 'Opus Magnum' in '09, though I haven't heard this work just yet...