CoC : Vuohivasara - The Sigil : Review

Vuohivasara - _The Sigil_
(Iron Blood Death Corp., 2007)
by: Quentin Kalis (7 out of 10)

Vuohivasara ("goat hammer") are a full-fledged black metal band from the Land of 1000 Lakes. Although they have foregone the necrotic production of their Norwegian cousins, they have retained the no-frills approach, their heretical odes driven forward by rudimentary but punishing tremolo riffs with a touch of Scandinavian melodiousness. Song structures are simple, alternating between a few riffs and accompanied by pummelling drums and vicious snarls. I assume the bassist is working the four-strings, but his contribution is not easily discernible under the combined barrage of the above. It need not be said that extraneous niceties such ivory tinkling, clean vocals and the like do not feature and that tempos tend towards the speedy. As simple as it is, the songs are catchy, which mitigates their fairly predictable progressions, which together with a refusal to suck at the threat of Darkthrone elevates it beyond the mediocre, although still falling short of classic status.

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

(article published 4/4/2008)