Pantheon I - From The Abyss They Rise
Formed in late 2002 and hailing from the city of Oslo in Norway, Pantheon I is an extreme metal band that combines brutality, aggression and speed with heart-wrenching melancholy. Rather than resorting to the use of synths with string samples, the symphonic aspects of their music are highlighted by the use of the cello. More and more orchestral instruments are being used to add depth and quality to a metal bands overall sound. I could never imagine it before I witnessed Apocalyptica when they supported Rammstein. But the Cello does indeed bring a more intense outlook to the proceedings – so quite looking forward to hearing this album.
Pariah is a seductive piece of music that is well balanced and beautiful in it its own way. The complex passages are breath taking and unlike what you would expect from a band labelling themselves as just a black metal band.
The essences from Martyr are indeed a little more rapacious but the slow and compelling breakdowns bring a potent weave into what is a very engaging track. The vocals however, do remind you we are indeed listening to a black metal band here, even though it does hold a few progressive moments.
I’ll Come Back As Fire, the third track on the album is quite ambient with the Cello being the more dominant instrument on it, at the beginning anyway. Further down the line a harsh bludgeoning beat kicks in and raucously evolves the sound and with a dark whispering vocal leads us back into a black metal realm.
What Lies Beneath? Is a very poignant track as once again the Cello makes its mark, until a frenzy of kick beats looms forward, along with a shrill riff casting a glazed melodic hue over the proceedings and has an insatiable appetite.
The title track - From The Abyss They Rise is up next and from it springs up jabs of metal intertwined with some classical moments and of course a gnarly influx of throaty vocal splendour.
Core Of The Soul is about the harshest composition I have witnessed so far on this album. The guitars hiss loudly like a million rasping snakes, whilst the drum beats throw out an agitated rhythm that is spiked with a potent punch.
Thus Spake The Night Spirit – title sounds very Gothic, but the vocals would suggest otherwise as a long intense scream brings it to life and back to a driving rhythm with black metal menace.
Transparent lends itself once more to a prominent cello sound that is melancholic and steeped in ambiance. The drums and guitar melt into the background whilst a demonic vocal weaves a black breath through the composition.
Is This Prophecy moves back to the darker side with a run of kick beats and an enthralling jagged black vocal, that literally flirts with its varied melodic structure, and then the cello once more starts up and gives the track depth be it all so melancholic.
“Quite a potent and engaging album all in all, with some amazingly blistering confrontations, soaked in atmospheric ambiance!”
Myopic Dark Eyes – This I think has to be my favourite track so far – and can definitely be described as epic, as the guitar churns out a repetitive riff. The overall sound is crisp and metallic fuelled by an aggressive vocal onslaught with a constant beat - This track is on fire.
A Shadow – Is quite a jumbled and jazzy composition that I can honestly say I really dislike this!
Impious Spirit – is back once more to its blackest roots with an ambling ambiance, predatory guitar riff and forceful bass hooks that ravage melodically through a haze of gnarly seething vocal.
Enter The Pantheon – The anticipation on this track as it builds almost instantly is quite breath taking. Still within its comfort zone but offers a potent frenzy of sound with a good slab of melody incorporated into its structure.
Summary
The cello definitely works well within black metal compositions and really boosts it with a dramatic quality. The vocals do not really change through-out the album, however, I didn’t really expect them to as black metal has a niche all of its own and the shrill demonic screeches are typically black but work well with the surrounding music.
I have to mention ‘A Shadow’ this track is far too mixed up and jazz orientated for me to listen to all the way through – I really do not like jazz structures and thought this really spoiled an otherwise enjoyable album. Other than that one song, I quite enjoyed the others, paying particular attention to ‘Pariah’ ‘I’ll come back as Fire’ and ‘Myopic Eyes’ they are indeed very creative and memorable tracks.
Quite a potent and engaging album all in all, with some amazingly blistering confrontations, soaked in atmospheric ambiance.
Pariah is a seductive piece of music that is well balanced and beautiful in it its own way. The complex passages are breath taking and unlike what you would expect from a band labelling themselves as just a black metal band.
The essences from Martyr are indeed a little more rapacious but the slow and compelling breakdowns bring a potent weave into what is a very engaging track. The vocals however, do remind you we are indeed listening to a black metal band here, even though it does hold a few progressive moments.
I’ll Come Back As Fire, the third track on the album is quite ambient with the Cello being the more dominant instrument on it, at the beginning anyway. Further down the line a harsh bludgeoning beat kicks in and raucously evolves the sound and with a dark whispering vocal leads us back into a black metal realm.
What Lies Beneath? Is a very poignant track as once again the Cello makes its mark, until a frenzy of kick beats looms forward, along with a shrill riff casting a glazed melodic hue over the proceedings and has an insatiable appetite.
The title track - From The Abyss They Rise is up next and from it springs up jabs of metal intertwined with some classical moments and of course a gnarly influx of throaty vocal splendour.
Core Of The Soul is about the harshest composition I have witnessed so far on this album. The guitars hiss loudly like a million rasping snakes, whilst the drum beats throw out an agitated rhythm that is spiked with a potent punch.
Thus Spake The Night Spirit – title sounds very Gothic, but the vocals would suggest otherwise as a long intense scream brings it to life and back to a driving rhythm with black metal menace.
Transparent lends itself once more to a prominent cello sound that is melancholic and steeped in ambiance. The drums and guitar melt into the background whilst a demonic vocal weaves a black breath through the composition.
Is This Prophecy moves back to the darker side with a run of kick beats and an enthralling jagged black vocal, that literally flirts with its varied melodic structure, and then the cello once more starts up and gives the track depth be it all so melancholic.
“Quite a potent and engaging album all in all, with some amazingly blistering confrontations, soaked in atmospheric ambiance!”
Myopic Dark Eyes – This I think has to be my favourite track so far – and can definitely be described as epic, as the guitar churns out a repetitive riff. The overall sound is crisp and metallic fuelled by an aggressive vocal onslaught with a constant beat - This track is on fire.
A Shadow – Is quite a jumbled and jazzy composition that I can honestly say I really dislike this!
Impious Spirit – is back once more to its blackest roots with an ambling ambiance, predatory guitar riff and forceful bass hooks that ravage melodically through a haze of gnarly seething vocal.
Enter The Pantheon – The anticipation on this track as it builds almost instantly is quite breath taking. Still within its comfort zone but offers a potent frenzy of sound with a good slab of melody incorporated into its structure.
Summary
The cello definitely works well within black metal compositions and really boosts it with a dramatic quality. The vocals do not really change through-out the album, however, I didn’t really expect them to as black metal has a niche all of its own and the shrill demonic screeches are typically black but work well with the surrounding music.
I have to mention ‘A Shadow’ this track is far too mixed up and jazz orientated for me to listen to all the way through – I really do not like jazz structures and thought this really spoiled an otherwise enjoyable album. Other than that one song, I quite enjoyed the others, paying particular attention to ‘Pariah’ ‘I’ll come back as Fire’ and ‘Myopic Eyes’ they are indeed very creative and memorable tracks.
Quite a potent and engaging album all in all, with some amazingly blistering confrontations, soaked in atmospheric ambiance.
- Pariah
- Martyr
- I’ll Come Back As Fire
- What Lies Beneath?
- From The Abyss They Rise
- Core Of The Soul
- Thus Spake The Night Spirit
- Transparent
- Is This Prophecy
- Myopic Dark Eyes
- A Shadow
- Impious Spirit
- Enter The Pantheon
