If a band includes two ex-members of a well-known Norwegian
black metal
outfit, its albums won't necessarily be
-oriented. Item:
Zyklon
's
Disintegrate
. Two of the four Scandinavians on this 2005 recording (guitarist/founder
Samoth
and drummer
Trym
) are former members of
Emperor
. But this skullcrushing CD (which is
's third album) doesn't sound like
, and it is not an album of straight-up
. Actually,
is more
death metal
than anything; this release is best described as
that incorporates
and metalcore elements.
Black metal
-style blastbeats are incorporated, and the extreme vocals include a deep, guttural
-style growl as well as the type of tortured, abrasive screaming that is more characteristic of metalcore and
hardcore
.
uses the broad term "extreme
metal"
to describe their work, which is accurate because
,
, and metalcore are all part of extreme
metal
. But whatever terms one uses,
is ferocious.
changes tempos frequently, assaulting and battering the listener at breakneck speed as well as slower speeds. There is some complexity on
(whose lineup also includes singer/bassist
Secthdamon
and guitarist
Destructor
), but this 45-minute CD is not part of the melodic
/
symphonic black metal
movement; complexity or not,
usually operates from a slash-and-burn standpoint. While melodic
and
releases go out of their way to make extreme
less extreme and more accessible to mainstream tastes,
is unapologetic in its dense, crushing harshness. Although not a five-star treasure,
is a decent and well executed demonstration of
's take-no-prisoners aesthetic. ~ Alex Henderson