Urgehal

God bless Southern Lord Records. For many years the label has been the last bastion for all things sludgey and doomish. But as some of the latest releases to come out of their gate prove, they're going back to the Black with a monster roster that sets a beautifully dark tone for the future of the label. Urgehal is one of these bands. After Southern Lord's domestic release last year of the group's 2003 album Through Thick Fog Till Death, the question of where the band was to go next has been answered with their latest, Goatcraft Torment.

Now, I don't know about you folks, but I like my black metal like I like my porn. Raw and dirty, and Urgehal has both in spades. If you have a preference for the operatic, epic songs of Satan, then you best just keep on walking. Urgehal's music isn't pretty. It's brutal, no-frills old-school Norwegian blackness ala early Darkthrone or Mayhem that unfortunately just isn't made too much anymore. Hell, the majority of songs are even sung in their native tongue.

New black metal fans do yourself a favor and discover your roots. Buy Goatcraft Torment if for no other reason than to show your Cradle of Filth loving buddy how this style of music should really sound.

8.5 / 10 — Kevin Fitzpatrick