So what’s the verdict? Simply put, while it languishes a bit in some places (mostly the latter half of track 3 and track 4), Pelgrimsoord seems to take the sound of Bedenhuis and capitalize on it by inserting a handful of really cool extras.
I can count on any Sentient Ruin release to be well crafted, challenging in some way, and aesthetically interesting.
This entity is death metal in its purest form, angry and hungry, eager to feed.
Thrall of Winter’s Majesty represents a unique entry in its collection of work: it is not a representation of the future of RINGARË, but is purely conceptual in its form and a reflection of times long gone.
There is really a lot going on here, yet the eight tracks remain (mostly) within the confines of Raw Black Metal as a distinct subgenre.
I press play, I am transported to some warm, dark, dangerous, and welcoming place, and then some indeterminate time later, I come slowly back to this world.
This release has real riffs, played well, and yet retains that rugged feeling through production choices.
I think the only important thing left to say, is roll for initiative!
The righteous hatred of humanity is strong, but restrained, methodical in its obliterating power.
So, the whole album, plus a few extras, all delivered with such energy and professionalism that one would almost think these guy’s had been doing this for a while…