Urgehal - Goatcraft Torment
“This is Satanic black metal,” hisses Trondr Nefas to kick off Urgehal‘s new album, Goatcraft Torment
I say “surprisingly” for a number of reasons. First, the band is coming off perhaps the silliest album cover ever made. The lyrics are also a bit ludicrous. Criticizing metal lyrics is like picking on blind children, but you invite that if you bang on about how Satanic you are. There’s quite a lot of “I am Satanic and will kill you.” There are some songs in Norwegian, which get a free pass from this monoglot. Then there’s “Risus Sardonius,” which features gems like
I inflict her virgin anal tract
Which I pierce with the same intense pain
I caused upon myself
The lust in me grows strongly now
I slit her throat and gain control
If I install AdSense and sheisty ads appear here, blame Urgehal.
Comedic aspects aside, this album is quite enjoyable, due to very effective guitar work. The riffs are catchy and vary in speed, which make the songs instantly identifiable. There’s some of the obligatory blasting, but there are also a lot of thrash and midpaced grooves, some of which are downright heavy, like in “Dødsmarsj Til Helvete.” In terms of dissonance and “twistiness,” some of the riffs have a Slayer vibe, which is always a good thing – “Gathered Under the Horns” has one of the most evil riffs I’ve heard in a while.
Dødsmarsj Til Helvete
Gathered Under the Horns
“Et Steg Nærmere Lucifer” has awesome, menacing melodies draped over driving riffs – but due to its length, you’ll have to hear it for yourself. Get it
