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Avzhia > The Key of Throne > Reviews
Avzhia - The Key of Throne

Mind-Blowing - 100%

Swietowit666, April 25th, 2006

This is most definitely the most underrated black metal band of all time. I first heard them with their amazing demo, "Immense Dark Sky" which impressed me greatly with it's incomparably evil atmosphere (think of the first Unpure album or The Black) with a touch of epic feeling. After that, I heard their album "Dark Emperors", which, though it had a few weak moments, utterly blew me away. It departed from the style of the demo, embracing the epic side of their sound in a way similar to Satyricon and Graveland (early-mid era). After that album, the band dropped off of the map. I was sure that they were dead for good, but then heard that they were working on a new album, this one. I was rather skeptical, wondering if they could top "Dark Emperors" or if they would slip into the generic cesspool that is many black metal bands today. I bought the album, listened to it, and smacked myself for doubting the talent of this band.

With this album, Avzhia have taken everything that was good about "Dark Emperors" and made it infinitely better. The songs are incredibly epic and evocative. The instruments and vocals are mixed equally, so that one is not overpowered by an excess of anything. The production could best be described as foggy, evoking images of ancient dismal battlefields (cliche, I know, but listen and you will find this description fitting). Sound-wise, the album reminds me of mid-era Graveland, but this is in no way a clone. Avzhia stand firmly on their own in terms of relevance. I haven't had an album of this style impress me this much since I heard "Thousand Swords", and I believe that this album may surpass that one. A must buy if you like quality black metal.