Shadar Logoth
Demo
7.3
While not easily described, New England's own Shadar Logoth thread a strong, synth-driven folk aesthetic throughout their persistently Borknagar, Emperor and Ulver influenced demo.
I hesitate to call this black metal, but the group does possess a few qualities often attributed to black metal--a dark, occult atmosphere, thin, almost tin-like production, and blast beats (though not quite as frequent as most in the genre). The vocal contrast present here (clean versus harsh shriek) isn't exactly traditional, but aside from that anomaly the band breaks no new ground. That does not mean that Shadar Logoth can't make a name for themselves playing quality atmospheric dark metal. The guitar work is especially impressive, the most obvious example being "Prima Nocte," the third of four tracks offered. From electric to acoustic, "Prima Nocte" is epic in scope and nearly flawless in execution. The riffs cut in that insanely sharp, De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas kind of way, but the clean vocals interspersed between the more traditional shrieks clearly places this release in the newfangled experimental black metal category. The three remaining tracks tread similar ground, never straying from the same folk-influenced aesthetic. Most noticeable on this debut demo is the group's focus on songwriting. While the pace can get quite frantic, they never forget to return to a strong chorus or driving riff, which really makes the whole listening experience that much more memorable.
Are you a strict first or even second generation black metal fiend who finds it hard to accept anything but the balls out cutthroat Venom or Darkthrone inspired outfits? This probably won't be your cup of tea. Shadar Logoth is better suited for the Agalloch or Borknagar types who revel in the meandering, exploratory sound that has come to define a sizable chunk of what many call black or dark metal today. Sure, the riffs often kill and will encourage some serious headbanging, but the persistent play on tempo and the many transitions therein are pushed to the forefront. One's ability to appreciate the talent inherent in tackling such a challenge in songwriting will decide whether or not one finds this demo enjoyable.
