The Norwegian black metal comet has returned with their second album. The band is delivering great chaotic black metal, with the roots deep in the old school scene, but still with a fresh and slightly modern approach.

The band is starting this album off, blasting as we know them. Great cold and very icy guitar riffs. Chaotically are the 2 guitars twisting in and out of each other, that is creating a very cold and storm-like effect. Try to go to the woods on a stormy night, and listen to the trees whistling and moving in the wind, it is a bit like that majestic atmosphere that 1349 invokes. It is a bit like standing in the eye of the storm, when listening to “Beyond The Apocalypse”. The near surroundings are quiet, though out of ones reach, everything is flying uncontrollable around.

One of the absolute highlights in 1349’s performance is the drums. Everyone who hasn’t been living in a cave the last couple of years, knows that it is Frost who handles the battery and damn he handles them well. The drum sound is a bit old fashioned, simple and noisy. He is crashing the snare drum, the bass drums and kills the cymbals, as there weren’t a day tomorrow.

The compositions on the album are great and varied. You’ll not get tired of “Beyond The Apocalypse” immediately. There are some challenges on this album, it is a great listen. Beneath the noisy and raw surface, are there plenty of great technical details to digest. The band is made of good musicians, who all know what they are doing, almost all the way through. The last track ‘The Blade’ is in my opinion a bit to experimental and do not fit into my definition of 1349. The track is okay, but is way of the rest of the material the band has made.

It is a good black metal album that 1349 has made. The band is using the old style really well together with newer and more modern elements. The styles are fused well together and create a good wholesome. If you’re on the hunt for coldness, darkness, evil and great music, I guess this is your next purchase.

[This review was first published on the now defunct scandinavianmetal.info webzine]