Tortorum – Katabasis (2014)

Keeping the Norwegian Raw Black Metal decadent sound alive, today we have Bergen’s Tortorum and their pummeling second release “Katabasis”. With all the watered down Black Metal we have these days, it is quite refreshing to hear bands like this being released by labels like World Terror Committee that focus on superb Black Metal. With over 50 minutes of music, this is one hell of a release you cannot miss.

The first sign of BM decadence comes with the initial powerful riffs of “The Great Apocalypse”. Delivered with a crystal clear production, this track really opens the album wide open with inhuman vocals and blistering drumming. With Immortal-esque catchiness, “In Nameless NonBeing” is one of those tracks that are prefect for moshing after a long day of work.

With the band blasting through hectic pieces like “Severance And Perseverance”, “As The Light Falls To Slaughter” and “Into the Sixth Coll”, the presence of excellent musicians like Skyggen (Dead to This World) and Specter (Aeternus, Vulture Industries) on guitars is quite obvious. Barghest’s vocals and bass guitar skills nicely round up the band’s crushing sound and keep the Norwegian Black Metal flag waving.

As the album closes with more pummeling tracks like “Open Wide The Gates of Chaos”, “Attributions To The Dead”, and our favorite “Beyond The Earth And Air And Sun”, the band’s sound is quite incisive and punishing. We particularly love the last song in this release since it shows a more melodic and devastating aspect of the band. If you are a huge fan of Black Metal, this is one of those landmark releases that you must have in your collection.

Label: World Terror Committee

Release: March 8th, 2014

Genre: Black Metal

Country: Norway