Haatstrijd is primarily the project of one Nachtvorst (vox), who is assisted on guitar and drums by Hellchrist Xul and Balgradon Xul respectively -- both of whom are members of cult Dutch black metal project Funeral Winds. The other third of Funeral Winds, RSDX (vox FW) also has a side project of his own, Weltbrand, and consequently comparisons between the two bands will be inevitable: both bands play aggressive black metal that is hardly original but is nonetheless well-performed and worth a listen or five. Although I enjoyed both, Haatstrijd must rank as the superior album, albeit by the slimmest of leads; their Mayhem influenced riffs and throatier vocals won me over.

Although the two bands are distinct entities, they cannot be said to be so diverse as to justify two separate projects. One wonders why they simply don't get together and record another Funeral Winds album; it's been some time since the last one.