By: Anders

Posted: Jul 4, 2005

This is one of those albums, one almost doesn’t bother to listen to the end, after having heard half of the first track. If one were to review albums like that, this would be the easiest job in the world. Luckily it isn’t that easy and considering most albums need quite some listens to bloom, I eventually became glad that I gave Of Human Bondage, a lot of time in the player.

At first the music on this release seems stale and rather pointless. Though as the time goes and the more spins the album get. Then do the compositions reveal their true selves and the inner dark atmospheres see the light of day. Dark and heavy riffs, repetitive, ambient and eerie. Building up spheres of frustration and hatred towards the norms of society. The compositions are deep and invoke a doomy atmosphere.

At times does the music turn into some pretty horror inspired atmospheres, build upon old school black/thrash tunes, with a great growled scream. Of Human Bondage does hit the nail there, and the scent of horror are present.

The sound on this album is raw and simple, but still quite powerful, without losing coldness and darkness. The musicians do deliver an acceptable effort, but one should check this out for the whole of the compositions, which is the intention of this album.

Not the usual black metal album, there are horror and doomy elements as well, as old school raw black metal. This is one of these albums you have to check out, and remember to give it some spins before writing it off. You need some time to get beneath the surface, and it is there all the evil are hidden. I am pretty sure that this band has quite a future ahead of them, this album is none the less very interesting and good. I am already looking forward to the "Goat Session vol 2 and 3", which are the predecessors to this album, and so should you.

Rating: 8/10

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