CoC : Various - Svartmetall Compilation 2001 : Review

Various - _Svartmetall Compilation 2001_
(NSP, 2001)
by: Pedro Azevedo (7.5 out of 10)

This disc has been around for quite a while now (just look at the title), and as a compilation of unsigned bands it may well be out of date by now. Nevertheless, it still serves as a great sample of the Norwegian black metal underground anno 2001. First band Alrune Mandragora presents a cold, mechanized black metal with subdued snarls and some keyboard passages; a decent opener for the compilation, even if not a very dynamic one. Antaios raises the aggression level a notch or three, with a fast, grimly melodic, somewhat Swedish-sounding style of black metal. Their slower sections are quite doomy and suddenly give way to blastbeats, and overall this track is intense, well written, well performed and definitely a highlight. The piano that opens Ravn's contribution to the compilation provides a sharp contrast to the preceding track, and proves to be the main component of their sound throughout the song. Add slow, monotonous drumming, an indistinct guitar buzz and screamed vocals layered over the piano line, and you've got Ravn: doomy, hypnotic, but lacking a bit in songwriting. Still, they do manage to set an interesting atmosphere. Mental Garrotter brings a more death-oriented style into the mix; the guitar work is interesting, and there is definitely some black metal present at times, but as a whole the band doesn't make much impact. Celebratum take things back firmly into the black metal world, with involved guitar work and some interesting dynamics -- again a bit Swedish to my ears. Aggressive and intense, and a highlight together with the aforementioned Antaios. Vesen open their track quietly and throw in the first clean vocals on the compilation, bringing a bit of a Viking feel to their music. The song is generally slow paced; the clean vocals are competent, and it's actually during the more aggressive sections that the band fails to offer anything interesting. The rather lo-fi Rovmord are next, with strangely loud, distorted spoken vocals; it may be an original approach, but not a very interesting one. Lunaris is a lot more standard, mid-paced, keyboard-enhanced black metal, and their track is neither bad nor anything out of the ordinary. They also include what sounds like some heavy metal influences, but it doesn't help their cause much. Endsum takes matters into a doomier realm of black metal, and do so without becoming monotonous -- they even include some rather fast bits for contrast, and the overall result is quite good. Next up is Landawarijaz, who throw in plenty of acoustics into their black metal. The effect is rather interesting, giving the band a more unique sound than most others on the comp, but it still requires quite a bit of honing. Carnifex then attack the listener with lo-fi ferocity; so lo-fi, in fact, that said ferocity is significantly dampened as a result. Ancestral Legacy are a much more laid-back affair, but somewhat bland compared to the aforementioned Ravn. Wrapping up the compilation is the band that readers are most likely to have heard of: 1349, featuring insanely fast drumming courtesy of Satyricon's Frost -- so much so that the guitar work and screams become rather secondary to the merciless drumming, and the song itself is rather forgettable. I believe this song belongs to their 2001 self-titled EP, rather than 2002's _Liberation_ full-length (which I have not heard yet). Overall, as with virtually any compilation, quality fluctuates considerably throughout the disc, but in this case there's more of the interesting variety. Considering these are mostly quite underground bands, the compilation is actually a very good value: you won't easily find these tracks elsewhere unless you go demo scavenging. I know I will certainly be on the lookout for some of these bands in the future.

Contact: http://www.svartmetall.no

(article published 31/3/2003)

ALBUMS
29/12/2010	C Drishner	8	Various - Tribute to H.P. Lovecraft - Gate 1: Yogsothery - Chaosmogonic Rituals of Fear
14/12/2010	N Shahpazov	8.5	Various - Whom the Moon a Nightsong Sings
2/4/2010	Q Kalis		Various - Rising of Yog-Sothoth: Tribute to Thergothon
8/1/2009	C Drishner		Various - Anthrosphere Volume 1
17/9/2008	P Azevedo	7.5	Various - My Own Wolf: A New Approach to Ulver
9/8/2008	Q Kalis	7.5	Various - Metal Message IV
22/6/2008	Q Kalis	8	Various - ...Where Tattered Clouds Are Stranding
17/6/2008	Q Kalis	5.5	Various - Extreme Metal Inside
13/6/2008	Q Kalis	8	Various - Might Is Right: Nordic Warchants II
11/6/2008	Q Kalis	4.5	Various - Bajo el Signo de la Violencia: Tribute to Masacre
7/10/2007	Q Kalis	7	Various - Rise of the Eastern Blood
24/7/2007	Q Kalis	8	Various - Might Is Right - Nordic Warchants Pt. I
4/7/2007	Q Kalis	7	Various - Aural Holograms Vol. I
20/4/2007	Q Kalis	8.5	Various - Noise.IL
15/4/2007	Q Kalis		Various - Fine-Tuned Disasters
5/4/2007	Q Kalis		Various - Defaced and Split
25/3/2007	Q Kalis	8	Various - Fuck the Modern World
8/3/2007	J Ulrey	7.5	Various - Intoxicated Vol. 4
24/2/2007	K Sarampalis	7	Various - Metal Message Vol III
28/1/2007	Q Kalis	8.5	Various - A Reassuring Voice on the Television
9/1/2007	Q Kalis	7.5	Various - Hauautagused Karjed Vol. II: Estonian Extreme Metal Compilation
26/12/2006	Q Kalis	8	Various - All My Dead Friends
7/11/2005	N Shahpazov	7	Various - The Wood Brothers
10/1/2005	T DePalma	7.5	Various - Listen Without Distraction - A Tribute to Kyuss
19/10/2004	P Azevedo	7	Various - Fenriz Presents... The Best of Old-School Black Metal
17/1/2004	A McKay	3.5	Various - Defenders of Metal Volume 1 - The Seduction
16/11/2003	X Hoose	7	Various - Japanese Assault
31/8/2003	J Montague	8	Various - Barbaric Onslaught (Australian Metal Attack)
29/5/2003	Q Kalis	7.5	Various - Victory Through Total Domination: Compilation No. III
27/5/2003	A Wee	7	Various - The Obsolete View
5/4/2003	P Azevedo	8	Various - Better Undead Than Alive
26/3/2003	X Hoose	4	Various - Covered in Blood: A Tribute to Slayer
12/4/2002	B Meloon	6	Various - Czech Assault
12/4/2002	Q Kalis	7.5	Various - The Bells of the Mystical Empire
14/1/2002	A Wee	6	Various - Hellion Promo Vol II
14/1/2002	A McKay	7	Various - Colorado Colossus
19/10/2001	Q Kalis	7.5	Various - Beauty in Darkness 5
12/8/2001	A McKay	2	Various - Brazilian Assault
12/8/2001	V Eldefors	7	Various - Triarchy of Vasconia
12/8/2001	A Wee	9	Various - Black Metal Blitzkrieg
13/5/2001	A Wee	8	Various - The Return of Darkness and Hate
13/5/2001	A McKay	8	Various - Requiems of Revulsion: A Tribute to Carcass
13/3/2001	A McKay	4	Various - Chamber Metal: Neo-Classical Metal Guitar
13/3/2001	A McKay	6.5	Various - Overload 2: Tribute to Metallica
10/1/2001	A McKay	6.5	Various - Scream Forth Blasphemy: A Tribute to Morbid Angel
20/11/2000	A McKay	2	Various - Dead Zeppelin - A Metal Tribute to Led Zeppelin
20/11/2000	A McKay	6.5	Various - In the Sign of the Horns - A Tribute to Venom
20/11/2000	G Sanchez	7	Various - Economi$ed
20/11/2000	G Sanchez	8	Various - Coalescence
25/10/2000	A McKay	6	Various - Gateway to Hell 2: Tribute to Slayer
25/10/2000	A McKay	7	Various - King Diamond Tribute
25/10/2000	A Cantwell	7.5	Various - World of Pain -- A Tribute to Sepultura
25/10/2000	A Cantwell	7.5	Various - Jump in the Pit -- A Tribute to Testament
25/10/2000	A McKay	9.5	Various - Root of All Evil 2000 2nd Anniversary Sampler
12/8/2000	A McKay	5	Various - Raise the Flag of Hate: A Tribute to Kreator
12/8/2000	A McKay	8	Various - Curse of the Demon: A Tribute to Mercyful Fate
25/5/2000	A Bromley	3	Various - Power From the North
25/5/2000	A Bromley	7.5	Various - Panther: A Tribute to Pantera
5/3/2000	A Bromley	8.5	Various - Holy Dio: Tribute to Ronnie James Dio
15/1/2000	M Noll	2	Various - A Tribute to Accept
15/1/2000	P Azevedo	8	Various - To Magic...
9/12/1999	P Schwarz	8	Various - 21st Century Media Blitz Vol. 2
9/12/1999	A Bromley	8.5	Various - Never Give In: A Tribute to Bad Brains
12/8/1999	A McKay	3	Various - A Tribute to Hell: Satanic Rites
12/8/1999	P Schwarz	3	Various - ECW Extreme Music
12/8/1999	G Sanchez	6	Various - Lobot Manual
12/8/1999	G Sanchez	7.5	Various - Needlepoint
12/8/1999	A McKay	9	Various - White: Nightmares in the End
7/7/1999	A Wasylyk	7	Various - Death... Is Just the Beginning 5
15/6/1999	P Azevedo	5	Various - Psyclone Sinphonies
15/6/1999	A Wasylyk	6.5	Various - Beauty in Darkness Vol. 3
15/6/1999	A McKay	8.5	Various - Smells Like Team Spirit III
19/5/1999	G Sanchez	6.5	Various - Extreme America 3
19/5/1999	A McKay	7	Various - Straight to Hell -- A Tribute to Slayer
19/5/1999	G Sanchez	7.5	Various - Freak Animal Zine #11 CD
19/5/1999	P Azevedo	8	Various - Where We Go, Others Can Only Follow...
19/5/1999	A Cantwell	8.5	Various - Chords of the Grave
19/5/1999	A McKay	8.5	Various - To Live Is Ever to Be in Danger
14/3/1999	A Bromley	7	Various - Black Mark Tribute II
14/3/1999	A McKay	7	Various - In Conspiracy With Satan
14/3/1999	G Sanchez	8	Various - WWF - The Music Vol. 3
13/2/1999	A Cantwell	8.5	Various - Full Moon Productions Sampler CD
16/1/1999	P Schwarz	5	Various - Roadkill
16/1/1999	P Schwarz	7	Various - Feuersturm Vol. II: The Ultimate Storm
16/1/1999	P Schwarz	8	Various - Wardance
16/1/1999	A Cantwell	8	Various - From Kaamos to Midnight Sun -- Finnish Metal Compilation
19/11/1998	A Bromley	8	Various - GRRRR!!: Extreme Music From Vancouver
1/10/1998	P Schwarz	7	Various - Cry Now, Cry Later -- Vols. 3 & 4
1/10/1998	A Cantwell	7	Various - Songs From the Penalty Box: Volume 2
1/10/1998	P Schwarz	8	Various - Amduscias
1/9/1998	P Azevedo	6	Various - High Radiation 4
1/9/1998	A Bromley	7	Various - Call on the Dark II
1/9/1998	B Meloon	7	Various - Bestial Sampler: 1997-1998
1/9/1998	A Wasylyk	8	Various - Fiesta Comes Alive!
1/9/1998	P Schwarz	9	Various - Statements of Intent
8/7/1998	A Wasylyk	6	Various - Blackened III
8/7/1998	A Wasylyk	7	Various - Statements of Intent
8/7/1998	A Wasylyk	8	Various - Sepultural Feast: A Tribute to Sepultura
7/6/1998	P Azevedo		Various - Peaceville X
7/6/1998	A Bromley	7	Various - Call To Irons: A Tribute to Iron Maiden
7/6/1998	A Wasylyk	7	Various - Voyager: 10 Years Nuclear Blast
7/6/1998	B Meloon	8	Various - Until the End of Time
1/1/1998	A Wasylyk	5	Various - A Declaration of Independence
1/1/1998	A Gaudrault	7	Various - Masters of Misery - Black Sabbath: The Earache Tribute
1/1/1998	A Bromley	7	Various - Untitled (ten)
17/11/1997	A Bromley	8	Various - Earache Unplugged 2
14/7/1997	A Wasylyk	3	Various - The Kanada Compilation
14/7/1997	Z Tsarfin	7	Various - Awakenings: Females in Extreme Music
14/7/1997	A Bromley	9	Various - A Black Mark Tribute
7/6/1997	A Bromley	8	Various - The Ozz-Fest: Live
13/5/1997	P Azevedo	8	Various - Out of the Dark Live Compilation
13/5/1997	S Hoeltzel	9	Various - World Domination II
5/2/1997	A Bromley	5	Various - Frozen Dawn III
5/2/1997	A Bromley	8	Various - The Absolute Supper
2/1/1997	A Wasylyk	9	Various - Beneath the Icy Floe: A Projekt Sampler V.4
12/8/1996	A Wasylyk	7	Various - Black Mark Attack
12/8/1996	G Filicetti	9	Various - ...And Even Wolves Hid Their Teeth
17/7/1996	A Bromley	9	Various - Beauty In Darkness
9/6/1996	S Hoeltzel	7	Various - Nordic Metal: A Tribute to Euronymous
18/4/1996	N Bassett	7	Various - In Memory of Celtic Frost
14/3/1996	A Bromley	7	Various - Identity II
14/3/1996	N Bassett	8	Various - With Us Or Against Us
17/1/1996	G Filicetti	9	Various - Four Ways To Misery