Shadow Plays of Grief and Pain

The album opens with chilling sounds of reverberating cymbals and creates a mesmerizing atmosphere that couldn’t have been placed anywhere else but the in the Intro track. Immediately the atmosphere is transformed into an ensemble of hypnotic rawness that uniquely combines repetitive drumming and a drilling background to offer sounds similar to some suicidal bands of the 3rd wave. However by the third song this style changes by incorporating subtle blast beats and becomes far too generic and boring at times, as I’ve caught myself drifting away from the music inadvertently. The song in question is “Lightless Horizon,” which utilizes a different style towards the middle but continues as a semi-interesting, monotonous track. It is one of the weaker tracks on the album.

The album tries to pick up what it had during the second track but doesn’t do this until at least track number four, “Veiled Wombs... Smashed Like Glass.” The following song “As The Vile Must Digress” doesn’t employ the same bleak under tonal and droning guitars of track two or four, rather uses them in a more melodic (and noticeable) manner to the effect that sometimes they mimic a violin. The vocals here are beautifully necro and lo-fi, and make this one of the albums that is better listened to with the bass all the way down and treble all the way up.

The album ends on a high note since it offers some twisted tracks towards the end. The latter tracks engage the listener with haunting vocals and trance like echoes akin to some of Leviathan’s work. The album concludes with “Eyes To A Headless Procession” which is much more thought out and less sloppy; thus showing the impressive musicianship of the members.

The production fits the Black Metal sound very well; it’s not as bad so that it takes away from the listenability of the album, as on some of Moonblood’s rehearsals, but it does remain cold and desolate without sounding bad. Overall the album is a decent acquisition and a sign of things to come as I am eagerly awaiting a second release.

The Dark Spirits among us whose musical interests are in Krieg, Burzum, Ildjarn, Crebain, Darkthrone and Sargeist should most definitely experience this Album.
The Production is Very Raw, Low Quality and Necro, which is a Very Good element of this album. All the Songs are very fierce and Filled with Hate and Ferocity, The whirling, Buzzing Guitars, Licking and Warping to create the essence of Freezing Black Winds Howling through Dark Forests.
The Vocals are the most "Harsh" element of "Shadow Plays of Grief and Pain", they are very reminiscent of the Vocals Nachtmystium did on the Ildjarn tribute album, with touches of Imperial (krieg) , Shatraug (sargeist) and Varg, e.g Ear Piercing Shreiks of Poisonous Intensity and Anguish that seem to drip through the Speakers (again, lo-fi production evident.)
There are no keyboards at all on this album (except possibly the Intro) so it is overall very Grim, Hateful, Old School Black Metal, yet there are some "Pleasant" Acoustic Moments.
All the songs range between 3 and 5 mins, 2 are about 6 or 7 minuites, and seeings the Songs are Very Fast, Raw and Brutal, The song lengths are perfect and the album doesnt get boring, It just fules the mind with the urge to Kill!
The only one thing about this album is that sometimes the Drums can be louder than the Guitars and Sometimes the screeching and wailing of Naeth can be slightly tedious, but that is No good reason not to buy this or dislike it whatsoever.
Excellent album, Very Grim, Cold, Necro and Raw as Fuck.