The Lodge @ Aura Noir's The Merciless Review

Aura Noir
The Merciless

Appearing as a sort of visit card for Peaceville's new Tyrant Syndicate Productions subsidiary (managed by none other than Darkthrone's evil pair - Fenriz and Nocturno Culto), Aura Noir's The Merciless celebrates the band's come back and third full-length for over half a decade, since its flaming Deep Tracts of Hell; and far are the days of the Dreams like Deserts mini-album (Aura Noir's debut release on Shagrath's record label Hot - a ferocious and exceedingly chaotic release, blending two of the harshest branches of Metal and featuring original members Aggressor and Apollyon). Consequently, the band released a couple of albums on Hammerheart (Black Thrash Attack and Deep Tracts of Hell), on which the former did trait the individual touch and expertise of Mayhem's Blasphemer on the guitar; hence, as a good old reliable sprite, he returned for the second time in eight years, to complete the infernal trio with the A gentlemen and to give The Merciless a triumphant sparkle as the household title of a brand new label, created in a rather unforeseen way.

In relation to this new assault, I can barely write anything suitable to explain its nitty-gritty and engaging vibes, as it's pretty much what the group has been all about since the mid-nineties; and even though The Merciless might be more forthright in sales' terms - not only due to the fact that it was released how and by whom we know, but additionally because a new unit of followers might blindly seek it out, seeing as it may be considered "cool" - everything from the packaging to the production has (relatively) remained unchanged: adamant, unpolished and untreated.
Therefore, I guess Aura Noir's trademarks (ire and rage from the old Celtic Frost and Sodom schools) won't be a disclosure to any proper devotee, as that's what pretty much did always characterise these Norwegians' audio bedlam; even if I feel that if a few of the tracks had been taken out (assembling the full-length as an EP of some sort), it'd have made a significant distinction in terms of impact and sonic awe.

www.myspace.com/auranoir
www.peaceville.com

© 2004 The Lodge

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