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Gorgoroth: True Norwegian Black Metal-Live In Grieghallen
 By now all you black metal fans know the story of the split that has happened in the Gorgoroth camp-Infernus versus Gaahl & King, both parties fighting for the rights to use the Gorgoroth name. While all this is going on, not only have we seen the release of the infamous DVD Black Mass Krakow 2004, but now Regain Records brings us True Norwegian Black Metal-Live In Grieghallen, a live CD (or is it?) taken from who knows where or when. Judging by the set list, you would think that it would be from sometime post 2002, yet our promo gives no info, and a little research brought about some interesting information. Apparently, these songs were recorded 'live in the studio' in Bergen, Norway in 2007 & 2008, with Infernus apparently re-doing King's bass lines after the fact. Gaahl is still on vocals, and we also have Teloch on additional guitars, and Garghuf on session drums. Apparently, the Gaahl & King camp are not too happy with the release of this CD, which looks to be a ploy by guitarist and founding member Infernus to lay claim his stake in the Gorgoroth name. Well, whether it's live or isn't, no matter who plays on it or when it was recorded, the simple fact of the matter is this is a pretty monstrous collection of Gorgoroth classics, red-hot versions that show what Norwegian Black Metal is all about. If this indeed was the creation of Infernus, then that explains why his guitar work here is off-the-charts effective, his icy slabs of tremelo picked brutality on cuts like "The Rite Of Infernal Invocation", "Destroyer", and the legendary "Possessed (By Satan)" near perfect in their execution. Gaahl's vocals are kind of hit and miss here, on tracks where he tends to try and scream too much, as on the otherwise excellent "Unchain My Heart!!!" (complete with some wild galloping rhythms and crisp guitar riffs), he is just straining too much and really sounds off his game. Overall, despite the brevity of this thing (roughly 30 minutes, way too short for a 'live' album) this is pretty cool stuff, showing a classic black metal machine that really knows how to deliver the goods. Too bad these guys can't all get along.
By the way, as we are publishing this review, the official (Gaahl & King's anyway) Gorgoroth website states "Regain Records has been found in violation of copyrights and agreements made with Gaahl and King and is ordered to cease distribution of the release True Norwegian Black Metal-Live In Grieghallen". So, if you can find a copy, grab it, as it might not be available for long, if at all.
Track Listing
- Bergtrollets Hevn
- Destroyer
- The Rite Of Infernal Invocation
- Forces Of Satan Storms
- Possessed (By Satan)
- Unchain My Heart!!!
- Profetens Apenbaring
- Revelation Of Doom
Added: September 17th 2008
Reviewer: Pete Pardo
Score: 
Related Link: Gorgoroth Website
Hits: 3064
Language: english
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Gorgoroth: True Norwegian Black Metal-Live In Grieghallen
Posted by Ken Pierce, SoT Staff Writer on 2008-09-17 08:19:20
My Score:
"Is it live or is it Memorex" was the catch phrase used in a very popular audio tape commercial for years and this is what I thought of when I began listening to the promotional CD for Gorgoroth's album "True Norwegian Black Metal: Live In Grieghallen". It's a release that is supposed to be recorded live in concert but it really comes across as very clean and I didn't detect any crowd noise so felt it might be live in the studio as opposed to in front of ravenous Black Metal fans. Now, before I get too involved about the glories of the release I must inform the reader that its existence does not come without some controversy and could you expect anything less from a band like Gorgoroth? Here's what seems to have happened. The tracks were recorded "live" in the studio by the band that featured Gaahl, Infernus and King along with a session drummer Garghuf and when the acrimonious split of the band into warring factions happened, it appears as though Infernus re-recorded all of the bass himself and left only Gaahl's voice over the tracks. The guitarist chose to leave the band that he formed and yet the group still tours with Gaahl and King in place despite Infernus' absence. At present these musicians are in a bloody custody battle for the rights to use the name and continue on as Gorgoroth. One cannot blame them for wanting to use the name that they helped to glorify the darker side of things and have them be able to press forward and spread their sinister message all the more. Yet I don't understand how one can win over the rights of the actual creator of the enterprise because I know if Gene Simmons took the name KISS away that would be that. Anyways, let's get back to the music on the release.
Whether these songs were done in a studio or elsewhere they totally capture the intensity of what a Gorgoroth show entails and a number of the bands best repertoire is presented to the listener. We get "Revelation Of Doom" and "Possessed (By Satan)" and from beginning to end Gaahl sounds at his evil peak. The album runs a mere twenty nine minutes but still throttles you with eight tunes that will leave you numb in some fashion. The drumming is blistering in terms of the blast beat speeds and this is required for a band like Gorgoroth to do their thing properly. This is definitely something that the bands true fans will want to get their hands on if such a thing will even be possible now. I mentioned earlier that this album comes with some controversy and also from Regain Records but apparently Gaahl and King didn't want it released and after the promotional editions had gone out the release was halted. As result there is a battle about the future of this release and I hope it does come out because it will otherwise live long and prosper on those peer to peer networks and no one will make any money from it. In the end that cripples the Metal industry much more than fighting about who overdid whose tracks. I am sure some made it to the shops so look around those places that cater to the genre and consider yourself lucky if you snare one. For the time being the rest of us will hope that it comes out after the sides clear up their differences.
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