LORD BELIAL

Lord Belial, the Swedish black metallers, have been on the scene since 1992, and 'The Black Curse' is their eighth album to date. The ten compositions on offer range from mid to up tempo in pace, and ooze atmospheric, melancholically melodious music that fills the gap left by fellow Swedes Dissection, post-'Storm of the Light's Bane'. Frontman Thomas Backelin has a similar growled vocal style to the late Jon Nödtveidt, which perhaps accentuates the Dissection comparisons perpetually made by journalists, although Lord Belial have an overall sound that is readily identifiably as their own and, on 'The Black Curse', incorporate musical dissonance with the more euphonic melodies to greater effect than ever before. Mid-90s Scandinavian atmospheric black metal is well and truly alive! Actually that last statement could be seen as either a pro or a con depending on how much innovation you expect from the black metal genre well over a decade since its heyday but, whatever the case, 'The Black Curse' is an undeniably solid album. With such an accomplished release, it is somewhat sad that, at the time of writing, Lord Belial have ceased to be after an announcement early Jan 2009, stating the abrupt end of the band due to drummer Micke Backelin's ongoing tinnitus condition. A great shame indeed, although I guess rather apt to go out on such a high point. However, with the band also stating "if Micke’s hearing will be at least a little bit recovered after a break from music and especially live appearances for some time, we really hope that we can continue where we ended", so perhaps Lord Belial will one day return to the scene.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Regain Records

Album

THE BLACK CURSE

Review by Mark Holmes

RUNNING TIME:

52:33

RELEASE DATE:

26th Sept 2008

TRACK LISTING

1) Pazuzu - Lord of Fevers and Plague
2) Trumpets of Doom
3) Sworn
4) Inexorable Retribution
5) Antichrist Reborn
6) Primordial Incantation
7) Devilish Enlightenment
8) Ascension of Lilith
9) Unorthodox Catharsis
10) Soul Gate

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

Sweden

"Lord Belial...incorporate musical dissonance with the more euphonic melodies to greater effect than ever before."