Often cited as Norway's most brutal black metal band, Gorgoroth released their third full-length album (well, if you count 30 minute CD's as full albums) Under the Sign of Hell in 1997. Newly remastered at Cutting Room and being reissued by Regain Records, Under the Sign of Hell follows the path of Pentagram and Antichrist, the band getting even more ferocious, faster, and more brutal with each release. Here we see Pest taking over the lead vocal spot from a departing Hat, and quite honestly you don't really notice much of a difference, as Pest sounds just as lethal and maniacal as the man he replaced. Grim is on board on drums (he would commit suicide a few years later) adding plenty of crazed blast beats, and Infernus once again is at the helm with his razor sharp guitar riffs and bass lines, although future bassist Ares does play on one track.
The band does offer up a bit of variety here, like the galloping Viking metal piece "Brofetens Upenbaring", with its mix of hateful screams and clean vocal chants, churning riffs, and driving rhythms. There's also the atmospheric and downright creepy "Postludium", the death metal strains of "The Rite Of Infernal Invocation", and of course the blazing black metal beasts "Revelation Of Doom", "Funeral Procession", and "Blood Stains The Circle". As has become the trademark of this band, Infernus' riffs and solos (yes, one of the few black metal bands that include guitar solos!) are just icy cold and downright effective in creating the mood here, giving off a brutal blast of frozen Norwegian metal wind through each of these songs. If you haven't followed the recent goings on in the Gorgoroth camp, founding member Infernus has recently been involved in a legal battle with current vocalist Gaahl and bassist King over the rights to the Gorgoroth name, and surprisingly he lost and is now out of the band. Gaahl and King claimed that Infernus has not been a contributing member for over 8 years, and thus they won the court battle to carry on as Gorgoroth. It should be interesting to see how the band will sound without the guitar skills of Infernus, but that will all be revealed in 2008 as the band is currently working on the next release as we speak. In the meantime, enjoy Regain's remasters of Gorgoroth's first three releases, that, despite questionable and bare bones packaging, sound fantastic.
Track Listing
1. Revelation Of Doom
2. Krig
3. Funeral Procession
4. Brofetens Upenbaring
5. Postludium
6. Odeleggelse Og Undergang
7. Blood Stains The Circle
8. The Rite Of Infernal Invocation
9. The Devil Is Calling
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