Behexen — Nightside Emanations
Their new work is just what's to be expected from a band like Behexen: ten tracks of solid, straight forward, violent and wrathful black metal. The songs are very simple and "catchy" and it's easy to get enthralled by their satanic anthemic choruses, which is a sign of good composition skills. The band goes straight to the blacked core by avoiding mannerism and complications, and this is something I highly appreciate in all kinds of music.
All the tracks follow pretty much the same, following the old and worn path of a thousand black metal bands- but the fiery guitar riffing, nasty and heavy bass work, & furious /primal drumming blend together in a nicely "full", fat and mean sound. It's a pleasure to crank the volume up and get overwhelmed by Behexen's sonic assault. The production is not too invasive so the mix is intentionally kept quite rough, while being correct and polished.
Hoath Torog's growls are very effective and close to abysmal death metal vocals: the echoing and overdubbing makes them menacing without altering their quality too much. Good job!. Some of the songs might sound cheesy and redundant ( for example the chorus in "Awaken Tiamat"; the incessant demonic invocations of "Circle Me" and "Luciferian Will"; the embarrassing and almost NWOBHM-style guitar solo of "We Burn With Serpent Fire"), but a bit of comic book atmosphere is inevitable in black metal and I think this doesn't ruin the experience of "Nightside Emanations".
In conclusion, if you're looking for something new and refreshing go elsewhere. Behexen deliberately chose to indulge and revel in the same stale old sins, and their sound has’nt changed much over the years. This latest offer to the horned Gods of rock and roll makes no exception: it's METAL. Take it or leave it.Despite the occasional weaker song, "Nightside Emanations" is a good album that will be appreciated by fans of traditional black metal.