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Khold’s schtick is cool, so to speak – black metal that trades not in blastbeats and anguished rasps but midpaced, head-nodding grooves and commanding growls by a cross between Galder and the Phantom of the Opera. Until now, though, the band has been utterly mediocre. Previous albums were slow seemingly because the band couldn’t play faster; blastbeats felt desultory, and riffs came cheap.
Hundre År GammalMester Og Trell
However, Hundre År Gammal (Tabu/Candlelight, 2008) is a different beast. The band has trimmed its fat – no superfluous double bass, every note in its place. Such minimalism runs counter to black metal’s usual atmospheric haze, but it’s much more powerful. Reference points include Satyricon’s Now, Diabolical and later Darkthrone if they gave a damn. Both these entities have been much maligned, but the first half of Now, Diabolical is some of the most sinister metal in the past five years, and later Darkthrone = idiot savant demos.
This record feels like muscles, built yet lean. Blastbeats are at a minimum, dropping only to lash like whips. The massive production highlights the band’s complete control over its faculties. Audible bass! Drums with groove! This is quite the neck workout. Oh no, an announcement: “We are sorry to announce that Khold has been put on ice for an undetermined length of time.” Chills, baby, chills.
They’re alright, but I can still hear a bit of drumming sloppiness. What they remind me most of is older Samael, but without the lyric acumen.
Whoever did the production here though knows his fuckin business.
This stuff is better than the earlier Khold material I’ve heard. It still sounds like an overlong Obituary cover band contest though, and what the shit is up with this new pseudo-accent the vocalist has acquired? He didn’t sound like this back in the dayez.
My main gripe with Khold, aside from how they sound like they were conceived, born, bred, conditioned and stacked up to be the quintessential boring Moonfog band, is that they used to be so fucking good. The first TULUS album–that’s essentially who this band was before they changed their name and label–is so ruling it’s fucking ridiculous. Solid as shit and pissed as a boar, it kicks so much ass it’s goddamn unfair. They even get away with fiddle and cello bits and girly vocals (non-phone sex ones, I’ll want to add) and a ludicrously overblown image but still rule. Then came their second album two years later and it had Sarah Jezebel Deva on it and not a single memorable song. Makes no sense. Ten years and a whole bunch of midpaced Slayer and Mot
helm – yeah, I also heard some wobble in the drums, but overall the net effect is pleasing to me. No need to have everything super-tight. Also, you know Norwegian???
mossgrown – I’ve been meaning to hear the Tulus stuff. The good news is that members of Khold have now reformed Tulus.
This one didn’t grab me. My forthcoming review is not as positive, and I liked “Krek” better; or, better yet, the Tulus material.
There’s a compilation of the two first Tulus records called “Cold core collection,” I think it was released by Edgerunner some years back. It has their demos and some bonus cover tunes (whoda thunk it, they do an Obituary song) too. Much recommended if only for the first record, which is destroying.
gent – thanks for the recommendation, it’s on my list now. The Obituary angle is interesting. Looks like the band put out a record last year, too.
I lied like a total cock, that compilation was actually released by FACEFRONT.
If anyone feels like picking up something from that label, the Minas Tirith record Demons are forever comes much recommended from this side of the ring. Despite the silly band name, silly album title and band members overlapping with such forgettable acts as Old man’s child and Chrome division (and Tulus too, hilariously enough) that record is a fuckin’ monolith of ridiculously heavy, slightly “progressive” metal. Totally essential if you ask me.
Interesting – thanks for the info, Svein, I’ll look out for Minas Tirith. I must point out, however, that they have one of the cheesiest logos ever.