When my friend, Zahid, introduced me to Aura Noir years ago (Black Thrash Attack- before I was married, come to think of it) I thought those lads were trapped. Uniquely trapped between black metal's bleak life philosophy & thrash's bold self-appeasement. It's not exactly refreshing, this genre, but interesting. You couldn't separate the elements clearly but upon listening, the difference were there for discerning listeners. Fast forward 2012, Aura Noir's back, more so for guitar alchemist, Blasphemer. Yes, it's the same Blasphemer who used to brew Mayhem's music. All due respect to the band, I gave 2008's Hades Rise a miss due to Blasphemer's absence- the guitar appeal just wasn't there for me. But Out to Die is something else, not to say that Blasphemer's presence made the entire difference but the guitar arrangements here are more focused & delivered with that authoritative swagger befitting of Aura Noir- one of metal's most self-observing bands, delivering music for music's sake.
Any excessive guitar twiddling here? There were occasions but not too self-indulging. Blasphemer & Aggressor dished out the guitars on a balanced platform but those detailed phrasings (Trenches/ Fed to the Flames/ Out to Die); that's Blasphemer's authority making the music attention-grabbing. But this is Aura Noir, not the spotlight return of Blasphemer, mind you. He was absent in the previous offering due to working commitments & residential issues not dimensional differences between the members- let's make that clear.
4 comments:
hi bro..
Whats your opinion on Rigor Mortis First album and Mike Scaccia guitar playing coz i feel Rigor Mortis first album was band at the t junction of Thrash Death n Black
wow... nostalgia that one. i was a fan of Scaccia, followed his stuff in Ministry albeit a brief, less glittering involvement there. that to me, was a dimension opener, Rigor Mortis was a very overlooked band, in fact, nobody knew who they were. i got a copy cassette tape from a classmate who got it from his brother, who was a member of this local band called MEPHISTOPHELES... that's how i knew Rigor Mortis. Scaccia's playing style was already a proto-black qualifier, manifesting ideas & feel more than the attention to technicalities but we all know he's one heck of a player when it comes to technicalities.
I mentioned Rigor Mortis debut album coz the only Aura Noir Song i know is
Iron night/torment storm which gives a heavy Rigor mortis vibe...
hope the new album is good
Out to die is worthy :-)
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