A lot of idiots out there talk about “harsh, cruel & bleak” black metal. This usually means stuff that sounds like a 20th generation Blasphemy/Beherit rip-off inside a mountain of satan’s turds. So with that lovely image out of the way, you must know about this CD of REALLY harsh, cruel & bleak black metal.
Eikenskaden (German, for “oaken shield”, my hobbit nerds) is the work of one twisted Frenchman, Stefan Kozak (save one solo). This is one of those oddball underground metal albums that takes a few spins to fully appreciate. Lots of severely twisted vocals that could really only be describe as the voice of the most evil orc in all of Mordor. (Or is that Gorgoroth?).
For comparison's sake look to early Immortal, Benighted Leams (since there’s some loony drum machine parts but not parts that could be exactly like the bizarro programming of Mr. Kurtagic), Ulver’s master work - “Bergatt”, and bits of Leviathan & Draugar with a bit of that nice forlorn-styled soloing that you find in Agalloch’s work (and Ulver’s “Bergatt”). Interestingly, he plays a jazz guitar with thin strings which likely makes the ‘ascending/descending’ parts a tad easier.
So as bleak & wretched this sounds, Mr. Kozak does allow for a whole lot of melody but not so much that it sucks away the heaviness or intensity like too many other bands do. Overall, this is some pretty weird-ass black metal and since weirder = better... CRANK IT!
(((((1))))) Gloomy piano intro that gives way to this harsh yet melodic & twisted mix of early Immortal & early Ulver & Agalloch/Ulver like solos plus a drum machine set on stun. Gets better as it moves through each darkened doorway.
(((2))) Same pummeling tempo but with more realistic drum parts (here & there anyway). Even at close listen this dude has some of the weirdest vocal phrasing this side of Tom G. Warrior! More gloomy piano mixed with the rest of the song (damn, this guy’s WEIRD!) & more Ulver/Agalloch-laden soloing.
((((3)))) Christ! This dude doesn’t let up! More blasting machine gun tempo mixed with sudden doomy & gloomy changes reminiscent of that recent Leviathan CD mixed with a bit of Sargeist.
((((4)))) Fast, yet sustained with some oddball 2nd guitar going at 1/3 the speed of everything else. Some wacked out mix of Benighted Leams, Leviathan & old Ulver.
((((5)))) Again, lightning speed quickness with vocals eventually delving into mid-tempo with an almost industrial walls of sound then a tad more speed again & then some verrrry nice melodic soloing that doesn’t get boring or annoying. Ends with more gloomy piano.
((((6)))) Noodling soloing - like some kind of unfinished Emperor song mixed with Leviathan and something weirdly melodic .
((((7)))) Get that cat off that piano! More bleakness (and YOU thought you could escape! Fools! Bwa-wa-ha-ha-ha-ha!!!). Solid, mid-paced riffage and some nice descents into blackened doom & almost mixed with an almost ( I said almost!) 80’s style guitar virtuoso but in an non-Yngwie sort of way & maybe even some Voi Vod!
(((((8))))) Speaking of doom - these opening notes are totally like Candlemass! Awesome! Then it gets a lot faster and then back down to a medium pace of spiraling riffs & drum machines on PCP, then over again to some twisted “Uli Roth if he played for Katatonia” solos and well...just listen!! Is it considered a “cover” if you do a Beethoven piece?
(((((9)))) Dark, neoclassical ambience ‘ala Controlled Bleeding or In The Nursery into wonderfully melodic & bleak, doomy black metal instrumental. “Hidden track” at 3:55- which consists of more guitar noodling.