Symphonies of Infernality

Many say that groups like Dark Funeral, Immortal, Mayhem and so on are the kings of black metal and are standouts in the black metal genre, but oh boy are those people wrong! Most of these "black metal" bands, for the most part, really suck and their music is waaaay too repetative and boring. It's all bland if you ask me, which is why I tend to stay away from black metal and most of their silly "evil" gimmicks. Though, one band that really stands out to me out of all of those dumb bands are Thyrane and I tell you dammit, they're really UNDERRATED! Underrated I tell ya! Pure underrated!

This CD really brings back a lot for me... this CD technically helped me get into metal as a whole. I remember that day back in I believe 2000... I saw this "hellish" person with a vest full of patches and bands... one of them was a huge Venom "Black Metal" patch, and damn did that catch my attention. I went on the internet and supposedly downloaded a Venom song called "Envenomed Suicide Angels" and hot damn did that song scare the holiness out of me. In reality, that song was not Venom... I find out a good five years later that the song is from a Finnish group called Thyrane and the song is actually called "Symphonies Of Infernality." Man once I heard that song, I was like "wow I wanna hear more."

That's how much of an impact this CD made on me and how great it is. Later, I obtain a copy of the CD and I must say, as I've experienced in the past, that this CD really contains some of the most diablolical music ever. Yeah, there's no way to really define "evil" sounding music, but if I could describe it, I'd say "listen to Thyrane's 'Symphonies Of Infernality' now!" Seriously, this is some dark music... everything about this CD is so diabolical.

At the same time, while being dark, it's also very catchy and well composed... suppose that's thanks to the amazing keyboard work done on this CD. That's what stands out most in this CD. Above the very crisp clear, crunchy guitars and blast beats are some eerie keyboard riffs which, I believe if each song didn't have the keyboards, the CD would be pretty much another boring black metal release. Blastmor, the force behind the band, is really impressive himself: not only does he deliver the very fierce vocals on the CD, but he also did all of the drum work! The drum work on this CD is far more superb than most other black metal acts... he just doesn't only blast beat throughout all of the songs but he also leaves room for the guitars and (oh my gosh, a first in black metal...) leaves room for the bass player. The keyboards, impressive drumming and vocals really make this release a modern masterpiece.

Each song, unlike most black metal today, have some sort of identity. That's the problem with todays black metal: most bands just either blast beat all throughout the music or the guitaring is very repetative with the chords. From the "preparing for war against Christ" sorta intro, to the "ultimate in evil sounds" track "Symphony Of Infernality", everything is unique. Yes, I did mention that track before, and yes, I'm trying to stress how diabolical it is! You just have to hear the track for yourself and feel Satan come through the headphones and grab you by the balls! Other tracks, like "In The Shape Of A Demon" are also very evil in sound... it doesn't hurt to also mention that this song has the most impressive use of keyboards in it. Also, songs like "Beneath The Unholy Banner Of Satan's Cult" showcase some catchy keyboard riffs and guitar riffs. It's more melodic than most of the other songs on the album.

So do you still think bands like Dark Funeral are the "kings ov black metal?" Really, if you still think a group like them are black metal genius, then you must be either a real sheep of the herd, a complete moron or maybe you never heard of such groups like Thyrane. Get your ass out there and buy this album now! Yeah, the song titles may be real cliche and all but please don't judge a CD by it's cover. Don't especially judge this CD so quickly...

Ear Candy: All of the tracks... don't pass by "In The Shape Of A Demon," "Symphonies Of Infernality," and "Beneath The Banner Of Satan's Unholy Cult"... you won't regret it.

THYRANE – Symphonies of Infernality

With the rumoured stepping aside of DIMMU BORGIR comes the ushering in of heirs to the BM throne. THYRANE have landed, as though from some darker, richer planet, outstripping most of the worthy BM releases of recent times; “Symphonies of Infernality” truly is a monumental offering from the usually sparse Finland. So effortless is the majesty of these Luciferian symphonies, blasting a blazingly Satanic trail to epic BM glory, like some unstoppable Kali, swinging six vicious swords in six invincible stone hands, rushing through the throng of BM bands, eviscerating, decapitating and dismembering the BM hordes…hordes of bands that can only look on in terror at the bladed tempest heaving amongst them, knowing their fate in the face of THYRANE’s greater force. There is absolutely nothing between the terrifying symphonies on offer here…not for a single second of these 50+ minutes is the listener’s attention permitted to wool gather. Indeed, it might be said that this CD is one continuous paroxysm of supremely produced aggression, layered with a tempering of melody that your present chronicler has not heard so magnificently and imperially delivered since DIMMU BORGIR’s magnum opus “Spiritual Black Dimensions”!! The-turn-of the-century Russian composer Alexander Scriabin’s symphonies “Divine Poem” and “La Poeme de l’extase” were regarded as orchestral orgasms…and THYRANE’s luscious, dark Kingship parallels Scriabin’s achievements from its BM perspective. The present release is a litany of hunting the pious, of the downfall of the Church and the imminence of Satanic ecstasy. Eye-catching, blackly post-Romantic titles such as “In the Shape of a Demon”, “Devil Messiah” and “Envenomed Suicide Angels” tell the tale of this massive, stupendous saga; a rare gemstone of dark entwining, beauty and abomination wed. Superior musicality steers all of this expression to the very zenith of the BM galaxy; a constant threading of new ideas creating awe-inspiring sounds and masterly employment of traditional BM elements leaves the listener exhausted and in no doubt as to the virtual domination of THYRANE. Some stars hang lofty in the vast firnament, for aeons outshining others.