What a treat this is. This album comprises the re-release of Thornium’s 1995 album “Dominions of the Eclipse”, two bonus songs which were recorded this year, and the three track 1995 demo “North Storms of the Bestial Goatsign”. This is a remarkable work. It’s not just an exercise in catching up, although without doubt there’s an interesting historical perspective to it. With all that was going in Norway in the 1990s in respect of the Black Metal movement, it’s fascinating to hear what was going on in neighbouring Sweden.
What strikes me most of all with this work is sheer quality and scope of the output. Apart from the two recently recorded tracks “Remain in Chaos”, itself a 1995 song, and “Reign of Terror”, which practically jump out of the cd and beat you into the ground, the sound is pretty basic but that’s to be expected. Most importantly and impressively, there’s a sustained level of calculated passion, evil and hatred. Each section is carefully thought out and there’s a great deal of variety. This is way ahead of its time in its ideas and its natural malevolence. “Dominions of the Eclipse” never stands still. It is a series of atmospheric and darkly violent musical statements, constantly transforming.
“Emperor of the Carpathians” is hopelessly bleak and even ghoulish, recalling Dimmu Borgir’s “For All Tid”, which was released around the same time. But what “For All Tid” doesn’t have is an acoustic interlude before blasting back furiously. A dark constancy is maintained on “De Som Pesten Dräpte” before fire and hatred return with the title track which epitomises the intensity, power and contains the skilful change of pace and direction which makes this so engaging. The breakneck “Det Svarta Riket” then grabs us by the throat. The frenetic drumming ensures that we’re not released from the grip of the furious firepower.
The mood changes again, and the remainder of this album turns to more bleak atmospheric territory. “Enslaved by the Witches Eyes” is sophisticated and mystical. As it drives forward, there’s an ominous whistling. What’s so remarkable about “Dominions of the Eclipse” is that for all the Black Metal malevolence, there’s space allowed for Mediterranean acoustic guitar work. It all plays with our mind. The final track of this part is an updated version of “Förmörkelsens Herravälde”. It is a complete contrast from what’s gone before. It is ambient in the style of later Burzum, and appropriately chilling. I had to keep reminding myself that what I was hearing was from 1995, as there’s so much about it that can be equated to later developments in Black Metal. But this is original and above all, genuine.
The 1993 demo has similar qualities. The 1990s sound is the foil for three utterly dirty and dark tracks, outlining the same quality of musicianship as we heard in the earlier pieces. I’d heard “In the Depths of Northern Darkness” while I was researching a recent album by Ulverheim, a modern side project of Thornuium, and just loved the crackling rawness and unremitting and natural darkness. Again, it’s not one-sided as there’s a momentary pause for melancholic reflection before it’s back to fast and furious business. Thornium know how to be cold and calculating, while also mastering the art of fiery, spitting and evil Black Metal. This is not something that can be produced.
Much as I liked the 1990s production, the highlight of this awesome work was the two bonus songs “Remain in Chaos” and “Reign of Terror”. The evil is there on both tracks and in this case it is enhanced by the production without any loss of the poisonous flavour. Sheer rage and power dominate “Remain in Chaos” but what is clear is that the furious and bludgeoning violence is under the iron grip of Thornium’s Thyph and is always under control. In this track you can hear the sounds of suffering and still more impressively, feel it. “Reign of Terror” is again noteworthy for its modern production quality. The violence moves in and out of this typical piece of utterly filthy darkness.
The view could be taken that by re-releasing “Dominions of the Eclipse” and other works from the 1990s, its blatant marketeering but I reject that view. For a start I can’t imagine there are too many people who have the originals. What you’ll hear on this remarkably varied album is the template for modern Black Metal. Above all, it contains all the nastiness you could ever wish for. Academics would probably regard this as essential reference material. It’s also a cracking collection of Black Metal.
http://www.thornium.com
Andrew Doherty
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