One Master: Reclusive Blasphemy

Now this is a black blast from the past, the classic Norwegian sound that razed many a church to the ground returned to through One Master and their full label debut Reclusive Blasphemy. A tip of the hat is due to the label doing the releasing, Eternal Death having produced a sumptuously packaged album which screams class before you even consider actually listening to what it contains; Dave Fogg's artwork being rather splendid. In fact the intricate drawing of death and decay all hailing at the feet of the demon is a jarring indication of what you can expect to find inside. Valder, who not only happens to be part of Eternal Death records also handles vocals on the album and bloody well infuriatingly good at that he is too, his deep gravely tones hitting all the harder for shying away from the alleged 'expansive and theatric' shenanigans so many extreme vocalists think is exciting.

That 'just do it well' ethos abounds, the guitars from Doctor Messiah (yes, we are in silly name territory, you'll also hear Blood Eagle (drums) and Black Wolf (bass)) deciding that the best thing to do is fill the spaces with smashes of elongated riffs and chord strikes that at volume are really quite breathtaking. The backing from Blood and Black (that's not a bad band name there…) is gargantuan and as "A Cursed And Dismal Mind" crashes into view, you're left with little doubt as to the utter chaos this band can and will pour down on you. Things aren't hugely varied across the five lengthy selections placed putrefying on display, yet the little nuances each track contains and the striking tightness of both the performances and song structures leave "Intolerance" and "Infernal Silence" as towering dark delights.

With this release seeing the darkness of night in mid-2015, doubtless the 50 copies of white vinyl, which feels like this album's natural home, have been snapped up. CD may feel like something of a compromise and yet with promises of a poster (hopefully of the album art), all can be forgiven when Reclusive Blasphemy crushes so many other albums desperately trying to be this threatening and depraved.

Track Listing
1. At The Hour Of Saturn
2. A Cursed And Dismal Mind
3. Intolerance
4. Infernal Silence
5. Reclusive Blasphemy

Added: January 24th 2016
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: One Master on Facebook
Hits: 1553
Language: english

[ Printer Friendly Page ]
[ Send to a Friend ]