Reviews

The Metal Observer (www.metal-observer.com)

Cor Scorpii - Attergangar
Reviewed by Alexander Meltzer June 2006.

After WINDIR successor VREID successfully broke away from the initially taken path, we have yet another offset at start with COR SCORPII, with keyboarder Gaute Refsnes, guitarist Stian Bakketeig and drummer Jørn Holen as vestiges of WINDIR. There has been a slight change in the music, but they did not venture too far from their original roots. The basis is still Black Metal of the very melodic kind, also incorporating some Folk-influenced rhythms and they do not draw back from using clear vocals here and there.

“Attergangar” is a 4-track EP, so it is really more a snack than a meal, which as I said has melodic Black Metal as its basis, molded in a varied ways, with changing tempos, divine melodies, partly Pagan Metal–like guitars, accompanied mostly by the growls of Thomas S. Øvstedal, which are loosened up on 2 tracks by clear vocals.

“Fall Of Man” starts lively and with double-bass, and has mostly a mid-tempo, very melodic and it is one of the two tracks with clear vocals. “Transcendental Journey” follows with a Humppa rhythm at the beginning, dissolved by double-bass and Pagan Metal–like guitars, a very powerful track. The title track is deeply rooted in Black Metal but always changing gears, while the last track “Når Enden Er God“ opens with straight double-bass, but also changes gears and impresses with very cool melodies.

VREID’s debut was created in the spirit of Valfar/WINDIR and after their turning away from that sound, we have a worthy successor with COR SCORPII and I am sure that a record deal will soon beckon. (Online June 30, 2006)

8,5/10
 

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