Humut Tabal: The Dark Emperor Ov The Shadow Realm

I'm not sure what makes changing the word 'of' to 'ov' so Black Metal, but it would appear that Humut Tabal sure do, their The Dark Emperor Ov The Shadow Realm (although the spine of the digi-pack omits a part of that name, instead calling it The Dark Emperor Ov The Shad...!), showing five of the eight tracks on display with 'ov' in their titles. Strangely all ov the production credits and recording dates in the booklet say the year of creation ov this album was 2011 and yet it only plopped into my review pile a few weeks ago as a 2014 release. While a split EP (with Weoran) and live album have appeared in between times...

Anyway, enough of that, what ov the music I hear you cry, well ov course it is Blackest ov Metal with a capital OV, isn't it? A million beats a minute come tumbling forth, hammering all into the ground while croakingly extreme vocals ensure things remain as threatening as possible. In fairness though, Humut Tabal do actually understand that less extreme often means more extreme, so the romping riffing is broken up by sections of slower pace (although hardly sedate) where a more traditional metal spark is struck.

Drummer Njord is a mighty skin smacker - precise, powerful and willing to put his life on the line through committed forays of huge intensity, while Grimzaar Solo Rex (I'm guessing these aren't their real names) does, well basically, everything else. Namely vocals, keys, bass, guitar, lyrics and song writing (my what a busy chap) and again, hat off to the lad, for he does a mean job here, tight fret work, strong compositional skills and an ear for the odd (very odd indeed!) catchy excursion.

Many reference points roar into view, Illnath, Dissection and a bit of Emperor all rearing their heads and often quite blatantly. However there's no denying the end results are reasonably, if hardly spectacularly, convincing. In the end what Humut Tabal have come up with is a strong, if hardly vital album of Black Metal intensity. Will devotees find enough here to keep them occupied? Ov course they will!

Track Listing
1. Across The Boundless Land Ov Death
2. Through The Forest and Twisting Shadows
3. Furious Winged Helldaemons Soar
4. Alone, In Purest Silence
5. The Misanthrope Ov the Barren Waste Becomes
6. Wielder Ov The Daemon Blade
7. In The Shade Ov Lord Satan's Wings
8. Dark Emperor Ov The Shadow Realm

Added: December 27th 2014
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Humut Tabal on facebook
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Language: english

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