Meh... - 61%
Snxke, July 3rd, 2004

Sure, these guys have the Nazi thing down more than 90% of the Nazi bands could DREAM of having it down...sadly...the music just doesn't really cut it. It's extremely well played, and the musicians are obviously talented though lacking in a truly creative presentation. (They also have the most annoying singer in black metal...the screams just aren't doing it for me.) They rise up and hit with a guitar/drum hit here and there but the basic concept is the same as most of the aggressive NSBM being shoved out to the market today. If you're angry at Jews, Muslims...etc...etc. You'll probably love this release...if you're looking to simply find some good black metal...well...you'll find some average double-stomp black metal that has been a key sound for many years now. Sure, they were slightly ahead of the game releasing the early stuff in 2000...but the market is so glutted now that it's really hard form them to stand out against the crowd.

The songcraft is what really suffers here. They deliver song after song of hateful wrath but little of it gells into an actual catchy riff or fist-pumping resistance anthem. Learning nothing from the master of National Socialism himself...they forgo drama and epic turns for violence and bloodshed. This will hardly draw more than a few dedicated fanatics to thier cause...and we all no the success of preaching to a very small choir. These guys have the goods to create stirring metal, but they're currently more concerned with thier diatrabes against the "enemies" than they are in crafting perfect songs. They DO however sometimes come up with a good "march" riff (see "Fire of Hell) that puts in the mood to knock out a few teeth...but these few moments don't save the CD from being entirely average.

Oh yeah...somebody strangle that annoying vocalist. He isn't strong enough to carry this material...he is passable in the low range...but his screams are just...ugh.

If you're into Marduk...and other entirely unrelenting bands of this sort you might be in luck. This doesn't let up for a moment and it sometimes strikes you with a neat passage that makes you bounce your head along, but the overall feel lacks the militancy they so desperately tried to seek. When they rise to the occasion they

The whole affair though makes you wonder what exactly they were all so pissed off about in the first place...hopefully this was a tad cathartic for them.

http://www.vinlandwinds.org