Ελληνικά
Last Updated on 06:04 PM by Nikos Nakos
Genre: Black Metal
Country: Germany
Label: Trollzorn Records
Year: 2016
There has been a four year distance between Timor et Tremor’s latest album “For Cold Shades” and their previous “Upon Bleak Grey Fields” in 2012, probably because the band had it’s eye on playing in shows and getting live experience. They have been active for more than a decade now and have three full lengths on their backs, with the latest album being the most complete and grown offer to date.
Having in mind that the producer behind “For Cold Shades” is Markus Stock, who has worked with bands like Ahab, The Vision Bleak and Secrets of the Moon, one can expect nothing but a polished record, and that’s what we get here. The sound is very clean and warm, something that might already scare part of the black metal fans away, yet it stands strong musically no matter what and a supportive production that adds to the power of the compositions is of course acceptable.
As far as the music goes, Timor et Tremor (meaning “fear and trembling” in Latin) is by no means the typical, direct black metal band. Their material has plenty of melody, mostly built on epic and atmospheric riffs found in pagan or melodic black metal, almost going towards post-black at some moments (for example, in the track “The Soaring Grudge”). Apart from the solid screams, singer Hendrik often uses his clean voice for the more dreary parts of the record, while I particularly liked the playing and the sound of the drums.
There are both fast and middle paced moments in the album, with the latter element appearing more frequently. It’s not meant to be the most aggressive black metal record you’ve heard but it’s quite interesting, offers a journey and has nice ideas, with moments in tracks like “The Ghost in All That Dies” that are remarkable. The last track of the record “Pale Faces”, which is also the longest, has also become a video clip and contains a captivating part after the fifth minute to help you remember the album after it finishes.
As a whole, I believe Timor et Tremor have gone better with the years and “For Cold Shades” is a legit work. I have a feeling they are not that well known yet and maybe it will be a new discovery for melodic black metal fans, make sure to give this album a spin and you might find stuff you enjoy.
3,5/6
