Well they say it's not possible. To play in or be a part of the Black metal scene and not be satanic or pagan.
Stronghold, and there are others as well, have and are doing just that. In fact this is Black metal played by Christians believe it or not. So do I attempt a re-classification and call this something else?
White metal perhaps? Not-So-Black metal? Hmmm I don't know!
A misconception often laid on Christians is that because they believe in God and Jesus that their lives are somehow perfect and all happiness is bestowed upon them and life is never hard or troublesome again. Indeed a misconception, for I myself as a Christian have found that life is actually a harder journey because i am now a believer in absolutes. When I cross the line of one of these absolutes i feel the pain of my actions. What does all this have to do with
Stronghold and this album you may be thinking? Well i am attempting to make a point that indeed Christians can play Black metal because we are no less affected by our personal pain and pain brought upon us by others. As Satanists hope in Satan or in most cases their own selves and Pagans or Viking revisionists hope in their Nature gods, so to do Christians hope in a God. In that case our worship is of something and all faiths I think can and should play the style of Black metal.
There of course will be tons who disagree because of Black Metal's satanic beginnings. This I do completely understand...i really do!
I imagine if there was a Christian brand of metal that started and became as popular as Black metal you would have some people of different beliefs doing their own version of it. So to say that fictionary Christian style is only for Christians to do and no others would be ridiculous because as a musician I myself am influenced by all styles and types of metal and other styles of music all together. My ultimate point is that music has no owners...it is for all people in the world to listen to or play for themselves.
So i relinquish my soapbox now for a review of this really awesome album of Black Metal made by Christians. Actually it's mostly just one guy in this band but he acknowledges some help from a keyboarder by the name of Kjarten Vestvik. The guitars, bass, and drums are played by the vokillist Eirek Hellem Bo.
Now music wise this is some forward thinking necro black metal. Necro to a degree in production but also necro in style too, but like I said more forward thinking in that the arrangements are quite a bit more technical than the normal three chord necro of
Darkthrone fame.
That being the case I can compare some to Naglfar style, maybe a little Anaal Nathrak, but more down the alley of early Enslaved with some slower sections like Khold are known for. Those comparisons aside
Stronghold offer their own, and in my opinion, original take on Black metal.
Lyrically the songs are blatantly Christian but only in the sense that Eirik is talking to God and not preaching, but rather talking to God as one would talk to another person. Speaking of God's power and Glory, and also crying out for help in times of deepest need and also thanks for answering those needs. So it's a very personal and singular focused album between a man and his God.
As much as it is common place these days for musicians in metal to be multi faceted and play different instruments it is still rare to find someone like Eirik who not only plays everything here, except keys,and sings but also writes the songs. He is an incredible writer and has a solid vision of what he's doing and sounds totally pro. I am not informed how long he has been doing this but I would dare to venture he has some experience and is no novice.
So let me sum up this way. A necro feel but more modern structures and a somewhat necro production but you can hear everything very well and distinctly, not muddy at all. Vokills are extreme and more death than black sounding but you can still hear what he's saying most of the time. Not many blast beat sections but there is some speed throughout. Good melancholy sections make for some introspective vegging in parts. Excellent keyboards that mostly take on the role of a background filling instrument and add a general epic feel to the songs. Really nice! The songs are varied and distinct with many nice and interesting turns that kept me intensely interested all the way through.
This albums gets into your head real good after spin#2 and just keeps getting better and better. This is a 5 song disc but it is by no means short. It times in at 35 minutes. Perfect length in my opinion. "In Strongest Arms" being the longest at 13:39 and my favorite track on the album.
A killer addition to any Black metal or extreme metal fan's collection!
Tons of discs for sale at
www.nordicmission.com as well as
www.endtimeproductions.com They have many bands of many styles and the prices are cheap.
Stronghold present me with my Necro Black favorite of 2004 so far! Top notch metal!
Written by
David Tuesday, May 11, 2004
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