Formed in 1993 Enthroned are a black metal 4 piece that have gone through extensive line up changes through the years and the current line up appears to be the strongest line up in quite some time.
This album is incredibly atmospheric and everything about it sounds epic, the production on this album is top notch and shows the band is trying to achieve new heights as opposed to just sticking to the early 90s second wave of black metal blueprint and they really in my opinion give Behemoth a run for their money with this release
The opening instrumental track “Anteloquium” starts the whole thing off with the horns and the drumming really sounds like Gabriel is blowing his horn and this could possibly be the end of times and really sets the tone for the entire album
The vocals are harsh, the guitar work is extremely layer and there are so many ambient effects layer on the tracks it really achieves some fantastic depth i’ve not heard in a black metal release in years. With many Black Metal acts just trying to recreate what has already occurred this is truly a breath of fresh air
Stand out tracks include “Sine Qua Non”, “Of Feathers and Flames“, “Of Shrines and Sovereigns“ and “Divine Coagulation“. There is almost an underlying groove to the entire album but yet it still manages to remain true to the black metal roots.
I cannot recommend this album enough and compared to where many of their contemporaries of the 2nd wave are right now in the black metal scene this album really stands head and shoulder above so many, including where many of the True Norwegian Black Metal bands are today.
A must for all black metal fans and extreme metal fans
“Sovereigns” is available now
http://www.enthroned.be/
https://www.facebook.com/Frater.Silurian
