Hellsaw - Phantasm

\r\nHellsaw is an Austrian black metal duo consisted by the founding members Aries – Vocals, Bass, Guitars and Svart – Drums. After two years from the predecessor "Spiritual Twilight", Hellsaw return with their third release "Phantasm" by Folter Records while the production was handled by Dark Fortress’ Victor Bullok. The main difference from their previous releases that becomes obvious really soon is the fact that the band seems now more tight in terms of the music structure and furthermore the songs sound more differentiated. The first track "Silent Landscape" is a raw black metal composition with sawing guitar scales and a thunderstorm tempo but with some sluggish parts, a depressive atmosphere and a great tendency for variation. The next one "The Ember of Your Own" starts in the same formula with a fantastic riffage only this time the rhythm goes down a few notches from time to time for the sound of an acoustic guitar to be incorporated along with some whispers. The title track of the album is a fascinating composition with a piercing riff, mostly mid paced but with some gallop driven moments and a great break in the guitars and probably the best song of the album along with my favorite of the album "The Inner Revenge of Nature" a rather hymnal song with an energetic speed and a rhythmic enlargement, still melodic but always with full striking power and black energy. The rest of the songs are under a similar blackened and melodic guidance empowered with penetrating coldness and plumped up with a gloomy isolation. While the outro of the album is a calm piano played composition marking out the solitary and obscure atmosphere of the album. The vocals from the other hand are grim and frostbitten, the guitars simple and the drum parts seem restrained and rather monotonous at times. The production is optimal and clear for a release that mainly maintains in the underground levels. So if you are fans of Dimmu Borgir this is surely not a desert for your plate but if on the other hand the underground scene enthralls your black metal appetites mostly then check this band and this album out. They are not innovating but they sound true at heart for all the supporters of the old spirit.\r\n

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\r\nVaso "Necromass" Prassa \r\n

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