CoC : Intorment Black - The Fallen Shroud : Review

Intorment Black - _The Fallen Shroud_
(Independent, 2003)
by: Quentin Kalis (7.5 out of 10)

This black metal five piece from Down Under specialise in performing black metal, albeit not of the primitive kind but rather of the slightly more accessible kind that emerged in the wake of Cradle of Filth and Dimmu Borgir. Considering this is an independent release, the production is damn good -- and sounds all the better in a world of Ildjarns and Darkthrones! As with the less necro bands, the production has been cleaned up and they utilise a similar sound, but unlike the others keyboards are scarce and merely one of several techniques (which include arpeggiated sections and utilisation of typically doom metal riffs) to create a largely melancholic atmosphere -- Intorment Black are obviously not interested in being confined to the limiting borders of the genre! There are several dips --particularly the (rare) use of clean vocals which sound as if the vocalist is imitating Mikael Akerfeldt's vox. However, it remains a worthy addition to the black metal world and a strong show of force by an as yet unsigned band.

Contact: http://www.intormentblack.cjb.net

(article published 5/12/2003)