Threshold of the Usurper

I wouldn't have thought it possible that a band like Usurper could actually get any heavier, but after signing to Necropolis records to produce this follow-up EP to Diabolosis, the Chicago crushers were more than eager to render any such doubts obsolete. What's more, this material bears slightly less of the direct Hellhammer influence found on the debut. It still exists in both the vocals and music, but the band commit such a primal, pulverizing crime against humanity here that they've taken the weight of their forefathers to a new level of extremity. I can only imagine on some grim battlefield, the sound of tank treads tap dancing on human bones would sound somewhat similar to this dense, uncaring, unholy mess.

The bass is thick like a pungent tomb of oppression and despair, and the guitars sound even more punk and hideous than the original Apocalyptic Raids. "Slavehammer" sounds like something that might have occured if Hellhammer had arrived AFTER the death and black metal movements went into full swing, while "Necrocult, Part 1 (The Metal War)" is pretty much a pure, thrusting black blade that caresses the night with the blood of its latest victim. "The Dead of Winter" is a morbid, atmospheric horror with these thick acoustic guitars that reverberate through the dense mesh of chugging force. The band's cover of Mercyful Fate's "Black Funeral" is nearly as creepy and mesmerizing as the original, but made wholly fit to preach upon the heathen pulpit that is Usurper. Lastly, the 14:20 closer "Threshold of the Usurper" ranges from terse, storming doom to rampant, ghoulish black metal and then back again, pausing at its center for haunting atmospherics and samples of vile chanting.

With over 34 minutes of music, Threshold of the Usurper could just as well have been a full length follow-up to Diabolosis and nobody would have complained. There is a reissue of this from 2008 which includes even more material, so if you're on the market you will get more value out of that. Like the debut album, the mix on this material is so mighty that it loses nothing to age, an unrelenting brute of awful anguish and creepy torment. Like the debut debut album, it deserves a place in the collection of any who seek the morbid fascination and cryptic taste of raw, abhorrent musical flesh.

-autothrall
http://www.fromthedustreturned.com

USPURPER - Threshold Of The Usurper
(Necropolis)

Chicago's Usurper are the first U.S. band to sign to the U.S. black metal label Necropolis Records. And what a wise decision that was on the part of Necropolis, Usurper are one of North America's best black/dark metal bands. I remember these guys from their brilliant Visions From The Gods ('94 promo tape) and I must say they are still a great band. They do have a few similarities to Celtic Frost, but on the most part these guys are very original. This Mini-CD features two tracks that were recorded during the recording sessions for their debut album Diabolosis (on Head Not Found Records), and two newer tracks from January '96. A very nice cover of Mercyful Fate's Black Funeral, is also included, which kick's major ass! What makes Usurper original is that they mix things up a bit, such as the nuclear speed attack of the opening track Necrocult Pt. 1 (The Metal War), with the traditional black metal vocals. The next track (Slavehammer) features, vocalist Diabolical Slaughter's usual style (Celtic Frost-ish) in a tune which is quite chatchy and memorable. Track three is the wicked cover of Mercyful Fate's Black Funeral, it is so fuckin' heavy! They do the song justice, a nice tribute to Fate. Another example of the bands orginality comes on track four The Dead Of Winter, which features a nice 12-string acoustic intro, this acoustic guitar and a piano subsequently carry on even throughout the songs heavier passage. This is by far my favourite track on the CD. The CD closes with Threshold Of The Usurper, another killer track to say the least. Starts with a mid-paced groove rhythm, then bursts into a blast beat from hell, and continues on going from mid-paced breaks to speed-core assaults. All in all a great release, chances are most black metal fans in North America will know more about any given European black metal band and not even know what they are missing in their own country, which is sad. None the less if the heaviness doesn't kill you, Usurper will!!!