GRAND BELIAL'S KEY „Judeobeast Assassination”

Music: Black Metal
Duration: 45:00 minutes (8 songs)
Good songs: The Tenderhearted's Manifesto and the rest

This band wouldn't like me to write a positive review about their album, because they're as black as black can be, but I'm afraid I'll have to.

I always thought Gorgoroth and Darkthrone to be true black, but like I said, this album is in music, what a black hole is in space. GBK produces music that is of a higher quality, and manages to be blacker than the bands mentioned before.

Now for the music, it is clear that you don't want to listen to this music in church (maybe in a burning one though), and you'd better not let the local priest hear this stuff. Every single word could go as blasphemy, and therefore I'm surprised this album was released. The music has a very evil atmosphere too, but is played more into-your-face, than for example on Darkthrone's new “Hate Them”. GBK doesn't loose everything in their atmospheres, but those are still clearly present. Melodies are mostly cool, and usually very sad. Almost all of the tempos on this disk are mid-paced, some are a little faster, some slower, but never for too long.

I have never been a big fan of “true” black metal, but I think that's because I never heard any good stuff in this genre. Until now! This is some of the best ultra-raw die-hard black metal I ever got to listen to. 45 minutes of good and sad melodies, that don't last very long; the band knows when to jump onto another melody. No water sprinkler drumming, but blast beats are present here and there, so that the speeds are varied.

The disk contains several cool moment and also some weaker ones. Influences are hard to recognize, but I think I can hear some really old school death metal (as well as old school black metal of course). The vocals too hang somewhere between black and death metal, but are nothing very special or extraordinary.

Due to the fact that this is black metal in its purest form, the production and sound is weak, black metal bands have the weird tradition of making everything sound very ugly. This sometimes is a problem, but most of the times it makes the atmospheres even darker. Keyboard are rarely used on this disk, and if, they are not very present, and are just there to do intros or intermissions (exception: Fecal Parturition). One more comment: Grand Belial's Key manages to be evil and dark all the time, something Darkthrone can't do in my opinion, sometimes this band sounds like fun and happiness, due to bad melodies, that don't really fit.

I recommend all who thing that Dimmu Borgir and Cradle Of Filth are Black metal to give this a listen, it might be hard the first time, but you'll get used to it, and LOVE it!

note: 8.0/10

Tracklist

01 The Tenderhearted's Manifesto
02 Pimps Of Gennesaret
03 Fecal Parturition
04 The Shitagogue
05 The Hexenhaus Vigil
06 Lamb Of God Slain Will Be
07 Satanicunt
08 Doves Of War