By: Anders

Posted: Jul 28, 2005

This is one of the bands I never really have cared about. They have released some decent sounding black metal releases, but never anything that I have found to be out of the ordinary. The latest album I have heard with the band, is 2001's "Armoured Bestial Hell", which I found quite bad. Since then the band has released "Carnage In World Beyonds", which so far has slipped my ears, and now the Belgian's are ready with their new onslaught "Xes Haereticum".

At first everything is at the old, screaming and noisy guitar riffs and leads, pounding bass drums and a scream of evil hatred. That exact scream and the more technical inspired compositions, made me think of Absu. Not that Enthroned is a direct rip off of the American band, even though there at times are resemblances.

Many of the compositions on this album are quite interesting and catchy. There are a great progression in the tracks and the display of technique is great as well. There are many pace shifts, there are all from full speed ahead bashers to mid-tempo atmospheric tracks. Enthroned has also started to implement ethnic influences in their music, 'Crimson Legions', which reminds me much of Absu, sounds like it is made upon the blueprints of 'Highland Tyrant Attack' by Absu and later on, on the album, in the track 'Seven Plagues, Seven Wrath (Xes Revelation)', we are introduced to middle eastern influences and sounds, and a clean vocal, together with the rasping scream.

The changes, variation and influences from traditional heavy metal and ethnic cultures do suit Enthroned. This is by far the best release I have heard from the band. This is not a top notch release, the production is not as strong as one could have wished for, it's a bit too dark and complex and could use some more sheer power and energy. Some of the tracks on the album do also slide into oblivion a bit too easy, only the 2 mentioned tracks stand out, and are remembered when the album ends, and that's not good enough. Though the band is going in the right direction, and finally seems mature enough to make killer albums, I am actually looking forward to their next effort now.

Rating: 6,5/10

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