CoC : Necronom - The Darkening Path : Review

Necronom - _The Darkening Path_
(Winterthorn, 2001)
by: Quentin Kalis (6.5 out of 10)

Most one-man bands that play around with extreme sounds focus on harsh, raw black metal or experiment with some subgenre of electronic-based music. Necronom are the exception in that this one-man band performs doom metal. Admittedly, a strong argument can be made that they perform death metal -- this isn't the kind of release which is easily pigeonholed. However, the focus on creating a sense of sadness with appropriate atmospheric effects rather then balls-out aggression and a noticeable lack of speed suggest a closer link with doom metal then with death metal. Necronom's crunchy post-industrial guitar sound is quite unusual for an album of this nature. This, along with the ambitions underlying this album (this is the second release in a planned trilogy of albums -- the first was _Exordium_) as well as the use of distinctive atmospherics ensures that Necronom manage to create their own characteristic sound -- innovation is always something to be welcomed. Unfortunately, innovation and originality are not always enough to produce an excellent album and while this album is not terrible, it still has a way to go before it can be regarded as a truly excellent release. _Exordium_ was poorly received by a co-writer; this album is definitely better then the measly points awarded to _Exordium_. Perhaps the final album in Necronom's Trilogy of Tears will see a further progression in quality and conclude the trilogy with an album of note.

Contact: info@winterthorn.com

(article published 26/3/2003)

ALBUMS
8/12/2001	K Buchanan	3	Necronom - Exordium