THE KONSORTIUM

The Konsortium’s 2008 demo garnered much attention and much acclaim when it appeared, only to be followed very quickly by what was thought to be the band’s disappearance. But since then, the band – the diktat of Member 001 – has been honing their craft and producing this, an aggressive and technical collection that fuses black metal with various thrash, avant-garde and non-metal influences to fashion its own dark atmosphere and mysterious identity. Augmenting this mystery are the identities of The Konsortium’s members’ concealed behind the adopted numeric pseudonyms – Member 001, 002, 003, and 004 (the only exception being Member T, who it is assumed is Teloch of Mayhem and Nidingr infamy on guitar). And in place of the obligatory black leather, spikes, and corpsepaint, The Konsortium has gone for suits and Phantom-style masks, a beguiling twist on the genre’s codes. This veiled presence shifts the music to the fore where the work can be digested as a stand-alone work and judged on its own merits. Were the identities known, it can safely be said that some lazy (and elitist) writer would brand them a ‘supergroup’ and subsequently judge them – no doubt negatively – in relation to the accolades of the band members’ individual histories. A shrewd move on The Konsortium’s part methinks. The musical prowess in the galloping black metal riff of ‘Gasmask Prince’ opens this, the soundtrack to a dark revolt that continues into the snarling offensive of ‘Lik Ulven’ (translating as “Like Wolves”). A savage beast, its coda fades into an ominously dark and melodic bass line, the intense, sharp guitar tone contrasting beautifully with the rising distortion in the climax. The confrontational call-to-arms of ‘Under The Black Flag’ – with its ‘Let my people go’ directive – along with ‘Slagens Barn’ and ‘Onwards! Onwards!’ are tormented, indomitable anthems. The latter a black metal hymn, the line “Destruction turns me on” will indubitably inspire many an anti-Christian soldier to march ever forward in the war for sanity and lucidity over herd mentality. The haunting lead work of the deliberative ‘Decomposers’ is exemplary, letting lingering notes howl between furious passages that serve the song to fortify its menace. The vocals in ‘Knokkeklang’ are hauntingly demonic and scathing with a choral mid-section played over a raging onslaught before the song returns to its sonic barrage. And closer ‘Tesla’ introduces electronically processed sounds into the murky mix with protracted vocals drawn veil-like over the bleak horizon of the black metal hyperblast drums. Bringing together instrumental proficiency and a multitude of vocal styles, the musicianship here is astounding. Disharmony, dissonance and disturbing sounds proliferate, and all used with great taste to great effect. Not once does style rule over substance. The bubbling cauldron of genres from which these witch’s brews are drawn gives The Konsortium space to allow the channels of expression that may otherwise have been obstructed to flow freely. The production, too, is excellent and each instrument, given ample space in the mix, brings to the songs the unearthly weight they command and the full force of the devilish ditties can be experienced. An accomplished album, well worth the wait and highly recommended.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Agonia Records

Album

THE KONSORTIUM

Review by Jason Guest

RUNNING TIME:

36:46

RELEASE DATE:

24th June 2011

TRACK LISTING

1) Gasmask Prince
2) Lik Ulven
3) Under the Black Flag
4) Decomposers
5) Knokkeklang
6) Slagens Barn
7) Onwards! Onwards!
8) Tesla

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

Norway

"Bringing together instrumental proficiency and a multitude of vocal styles, the musicianship here is astounding. Disharmony, dissonance and disturbing sounds proliferate, and all used with great taste to great effect."