Register Forgot login?

© 2002-2024
Encyclopaedia Metallum

Privacy Policy

Othendara > Blasphemous Revelations Arise the Ancient Evil > Reviews
Othendara - Blasphemous Revelations Arise the Ancient Evil

Keeping Black Metal faithfully impure - 85%

vrag_moj, February 14th, 2005

This is a devoutly old-school Black metal band. I can attest to that, having had the pleasure to hear most of the material listed on this site (thanks to the overwhelming generosity of Kriglord). Oldschool Black Metal is a hazy term, so let me explain first what I mean when I say it. Old Black Metal is all about extreme feeling and atmosphere – technical extremity has to come second in line because moody music is closer to folk (the earth) and is rarely complex. That is why bands like Othendara are easily identifiable with Oldschool BM.

Before I begin what is a positive review – I must comment on the only negative I see here – the production is a little flat…It is a low-budget recording, I know, but I think it denies this band a well-deserved lustre.

Othendara’s music is extremely expressive – composed of thoughtful, sad guitar phrases and dramatic theme changes, narrated by wispy, hissing vocals, with subdued, but well-represented drumwork. Great song-structures, give the music a purposeful, driving feeling, similar to how “Diabolical Full-moon Mysticism” is propelled relentlessly forward by a steady head-banging rhythm. The drumming here, so important to achieve such feeling is intense, but never over-the top – which means that blast-beats are used to highlight the viciousness of particular riffs and do not interfere with the more contemplative or rocky parts. My regards go to the songwriter – this is how it should be done! Overall the feeling created is of that same darkness in the early 90’s Black Metal – Immortal, Enslaved, Samael. Creating bleak atmosphere and untold profundity with but a few chords and twisted, allegorical lyrics. This feeling is often lost in the modern obsession with relentless blasting and thrash sensibilities, which too often are either for show or worse – appeasement of unconvinced fans. Othendara keep Black Metal faithfully impure and this is a great EP.