666

This is the first full-length release for Katharsis after 6 years of existence and a series of demos and 2 splits. This is a remarkable release that will surely bring to mind the first years of the second wave of black metal and specifically the three legendary releases of Darkthrone.

From the very first moment the listener feels like traveling back in time to the soulless and cold landscapes of the North, or better, the dark forests of eastern Germany in this case. This release is incredibly raw with riffs that cut like razors like, for example, the closing riff of “Thy Horror”. The vocals are exactly the same as those of Nocturno Cult while the drums offer a nice variation of neat fillings and poundings. The production is the ideal for albums of this genre and makes the atmosphere grim and eerie. The only negative aspect is that at times I heard the drums a little louder, so I could not clearly listen to the guitar parts.

Regarding the lyrics, they cope with Satanism as a religion, I suppose. The interesting fact though is the lack of cliché invocations and blunt blasphemous curses. On the contrary, they try to give a slightly poetic tone which, combined with the undeniable dynamics of the tracks, creates an absolutely breathtaking result.

I have often thought that timing can really be unfair for some releases. If “666” had been released in the early '90s, it would be remembered as a cornerstone in the history of black metal, but this did not happen, so I will settle with saying that this is an excellent homage to the basics of black metal. Highly recommended.


Originally written for: The Lair of Storfeth