Although I respect the band, that album is a whole mess. The production is as raw as fuck, the riffs (when they exist) are very dissonant. Dissonance + Atmosphere = Mayhem. Musical mayhem it was. I'm sure there are drumming mistakes there. Drums sound faster than the guitars. Performance is as bad as production, let alone the stupid cover art. However, there are some good tracks here and there....
I won't rate this until it gets a few more listens.

Written by Guest on 28.08.2011 at 15:49

Although I respect the band, that album is a whole mess. The production is as raw as fuck, the riffs (when they exist) are very dissonant. Dissonance + Atmosphere = Mayhem. Musical mayhem it was. I'm sure there are drumming mistakes there. Drums sound faster than the guitars. Performance is as bad as production, let alone the stupid cover art. However, there are some good tracks here and there....
I won't rate this until it gets a few more listens.

The whole thing sounds pretty ok to me. You've obviously been spoiled by death metal drumming (or been reading too much into the MA reviews) as the drums on this sound fine (certainly no tempo issues), black metal doesn't have to be perfect when it's like this. If you want sloppy musicianship check out early Burzum.

Written by Guest on 28.08.2011 at 20:21

Written by Guest on 28.08.2011 at 15:49

Although I respect the band, that album is a whole mess. The production is as raw as fuck, the riffs (when they exist) are very dissonant. Dissonance + Atmosphere = Mayhem. Musical mayhem it was. I'm sure there are drumming mistakes there. Drums sound faster than the guitars. Performance is as bad as production, let alone the stupid cover art. However, there are some good tracks here and there....
I won't rate this until it gets a few more listens.

The whole thing sounds pretty ok to me. You've obviously been spoiled by death metal drumming (or been reading too much into the MA reviews) as the drums on this sound fine (certainly no tempo issues), black metal doesn't have to be perfect when it's like this. If you want sloppy musicianship check out early Burzum.

What's MA? Morbid Angel?

Written by Guest on 28.08.2011 at 22:22


What's MA? Morbid Angel?

Metal Archives.

Written by Guest on 28.08.2011 at 15:49

Although I respect the band, that album is a whole mess. The production is as raw as fuck, the riffs (when they exist) are very dissonant. Dissonance + Atmosphere = Mayhem. Musical mayhem it was. I'm sure there are drumming mistakes there. Drums sound faster than the guitars. Performance is as bad as production, let alone the stupid cover art. However, there are some good tracks here and there....
I won't rate this until it gets a few more listens.

I think you've missed the point completely. Battles...... is a savage album. Raw and epic. Recorded before Pro Tools ruined metal, imo. Abbath did the drums on this and while he may not be the greatest drummer i don't think it takes from the album. If your into black metal this album is essential. And if you want a good laugh, just watch the videos from the album. The running down the mountain cracks me up every time. Great songs though.

Written by Sean 79 on 28.08.2011 at 23:55

Written by Guest on 28.08.2011 at 15:49

Although I respect the band, that album is a whole mess. The production is as raw as fuck, the riffs (when they exist) are very dissonant. Dissonance + Atmosphere = Mayhem. Musical mayhem it was. I'm sure there are drumming mistakes there. Drums sound faster than the guitars. Performance is as bad as production, let alone the stupid cover art. However, there are some good tracks here and there....
I won't rate this until it gets a few more listens.

I think you've missed the point completely. Battles...... is a savage album. Raw and epic. Recorded before Pro Tools ruined metal, imo. Abbath did the drums on this and while he may not be the greatest drummer i don't think it takes from the album. If your into black metal this album is essential. And if you want a good laugh, just watch the videos from the album. The running down the mountain cracks me up every time. Great songs though.

I'm a big death metal fan so... I don't think I'll ever like black metal although I enjoy playing it a lot.

Written by Guest on 28.08.2011 at 15:49

Although I respect the band, that album is a whole mess. The production is as raw as fuck, the riffs (when they exist) are very dissonant. Dissonance + Atmosphere = Mayhem. Musical mayhem it was. I'm sure there are drumming mistakes there. Drums sound faster than the guitars. Performance is as bad as production, let alone the stupid cover art. However, there are some good tracks here and there....
I won't rate this until it gets a few more listens.

I Really enjoy this album a lot... It can come off as a blur if you're not paying attention Though. If your going to listen to Early Immortal check out Pure Holocaust instead... It has much better guitar production and overall better song writing IMO.

I agree with you on the artwork mind.... it is absolutely ridiculous. Please Immortal if you are reading this re-release this album with a different cover.

Written by @gent_-_orange on 29.08.2011 at 02:27

Written by Guest on 28.08.2011 at 15:49

Although I respect the band, that album is a whole mess. The production is as raw as fuck, the riffs (when they exist) are very dissonant. Dissonance + Atmosphere = Mayhem. Musical mayhem it was. I'm sure there are drumming mistakes there. Drums sound faster than the guitars. Performance is as bad as production, let alone the stupid cover art. However, there are some good tracks here and there....
I won't rate this until it gets a few more listens.

I Really enjoy this album a lot... It can come off as a blur if you're not paying attention Though. If your going to listen to Early Immortal check out Pure Holocaust instead... It has much better guitar production and overall better song writing IMO.

I agree with you on the artwork mind.... it is absolutely ridiculous. Please Immortal if you are reading this re-release this album with a different cover.

They really should! An album with such great lyrics and concept should have an epic cover decipting an epic battle!

Written by Guest on 29.08.2011 at 02:29

Written by @gent_-_orange on 29.08.2011 at 02:27

Written by Guest on 28.08.2011 at 15:49

Although I respect the band, that album is a whole mess. The production is as raw as fuck, the riffs (when they exist) are very dissonant. Dissonance + Atmosphere = Mayhem. Musical mayhem it was. I'm sure there are drumming mistakes there. Drums sound faster than the guitars. Performance is as bad as production, let alone the stupid cover art. However, there are some good tracks here and there....
I won't rate this until it gets a few more listens.

I Really enjoy this album a lot... It can come off as a blur if you're not paying attention Though. If your going to listen to Early Immortal check out Pure Holocaust instead... It has much better guitar production and overall better song writing IMO.

I agree with you on the artwork mind.... it is absolutely ridiculous. Please Immortal if you are reading this re-release this album with a different cover.

They really should! An album with such great lyrics and concept should have an epic cover decipting an epic battle!

I would settle for simply the bands name in Black and white instead anything to get rid the current one.

Written by @gent_-_orange on 29.08.2011 at 02:30

Written by Guest on 29.08.2011 at 02:29

Written by @gent_-_orange on 29.08.2011 at 02:27

Written by Guest on 28.08.2011 at 15:49

Although I respect the band, that album is a whole mess. The production is as raw as fuck, the riffs (when they exist) are very dissonant. Dissonance + Atmosphere = Mayhem. Musical mayhem it was. I'm sure there are drumming mistakes there. Drums sound faster than the guitars. Performance is as bad as production, let alone the stupid cover art. However, there are some good tracks here and there....
I won't rate this until it gets a few more listens.

I Really enjoy this album a lot... It can come off as a blur if you're not paying attention Though. If your going to listen to Early Immortal check out Pure Holocaust instead... It has much better guitar production and overall better song writing IMO.

I agree with you on the artwork mind.... it is absolutely ridiculous. Please Immortal if you are reading this re-release this album with a different cover.

They really should! An album with such great lyrics and concept should have an epic cover decipting an epic battle!

I would settle for simply the bands name in Black and white instead anything to get rid the current one.

I have the album cover on a white longsleve tshirt and i have to say i like it

I'm sorry I caused this quarrel up... BECAUSE I LIKE THE ALBUM ALOT NOW. This is an awesome black metal album, quality riffs, brutal drums, Abbath sounds as good as ever... This is how these frostbitten kings should sound! Everyone who's going to listen to this album: LISTEN TO IT AT LEAST 3 TIMES! At first listen, I didn't like this at all! But now, it's up among my favorites.

Very good, but Pure Holocaust is better.

Some may disagree but the cover is very cheesy.

Pretty good album though, 8/10.

Written by Death on 20.01.2012 at 13:09

Some may disagree but the cover is very cheesy.

Pretty good album though, 8/10.

I like Immortal but yes, the cover is cheesy.

Another one epic peace, powerful aggressive insane drumming and guitars, primitive old school BM where are no satanistic lyrics but all about mother winter . this is why I am into BM, my 1th BM album ever and song Nr 5

and Baskyr Raven Dark

BTW sounds like band can play songs like 5 min long and then sudden at min 2-3 it stops and new songs tarts
Cool idea good job

From a masterpiece to a rubbish (definitely Pure Holocaust is a masterpiece)

Written by Dr. Strawberry on 19.05.2014 at 20:56

(definitely Pure Holocaust is a masterpiece)

I hope you're not serious.

Written by Guest on 19.05.2014 at 22:32

I hope you're not serious.

This guy is a clown. I wouldn't even bother trying to converse with him.

Written by Guest on 19.05.2014 at 22:32

Written by Dr. Strawberry on 19.05.2014 at 20:56

(definitely Pure Holocaust is a masterpiece)

I hope you're not serious.

100% positive.
What's wrong with Pure Holocaust ?
It's recognised as one of the Black classics among Black Metal fans.
The composition is complex, bleak, fast and tight. Sometimes I continuosly listened to this album 3-4 times in a day !

Written by Dr. Strawberry on 20.05.2014 at 08:52
It's recognised as one of the Black classics among Black Metal fans

Even if that's true, an album can't be judged as a masterpiece simply because a select group of people refer to it as a classic within a specific subgenre of music. You may consider it a masterpiece on a personal level, but overall I think the vast majority of people (or even metalheads) would consider it a bit of a dud in the discography of Immortal.

Written by Dr. Strawberry on 20.05.2014 at 08:52

100% positive.
What's wrong with Pure Holocaust ?
It's recognised as one of the Black classics among Black Metal fans.
The composition is complex, bleak, fast and tight. Sometimes I continuosly listened to this album 3-4 times in a day !

"Complex, bleak, fast and tight." Heh, that's funny.
It's a substandard black metal album with shitty production, just like all the ones before At The Heart Of Winter. Immortal don't really get good until said album.

Written by Troy Killjoy on 20.05.2014 at 17:10

Written by Dr. Strawberry on 20.05.2014 at 08:52
It's recognised as one of the Black classics among Black Metal fans

...I think the vast majority of people (or even metalheads) would consider it a bit of a dud in the discography of Immortal.

You're talking about Pure Holocaust ? or Battles In The North ?
Basically in my opinion, Battles in the North and Diabolical Fullmoon are equally bad. Too much cymbals, slow and almost 99% identical drumming (may be the drummer're too busy for hitting the cymbals). I dont even bother to check who is the drummer.

Written by Dr. Strawberry on 22.05.2014 at 09:18
You're talking about Pure Holocaust ? or Battles In The North ?

Either or, take your pick.

Quote:

Quote:

... shitty production...

This is definitely a wrong perception.

Before an album record to a CD from a master-tape, a certain degree of digital-mastering has to be done (even it's not mentioned most of the time). Therefore any imperfections can be rectified easily. Even I myself can use a free download audio-mastering software to modify on my own. C'mon we're not in the 70's ! There is no so called "bad production" nowdays. Most of the Black metal is meant to be "raw" to create the "uneasy, cold, bleak, demonic" atmosphere...

Watch your Bass, may be your bass is too strong, Heavy metal music already has a bassist for the bass, we dont need extra bass from your audio system, extra bass will kill the heavy metal music as the bass will mudden all the sounds, especially in Black.

I suggest you to low down the Bass to the minimum to bring the Black to the fullness !

Written by Dr. Strawberry on 22.05.2014 at 09:18


You're talking about Pure Holocaust ? or Battles In The North ?
Basically in my opinion, Battles in the North and Diabolical Fullmoon are equally bad. Too much cymbals, slow and almost 99% identical drumming (may be the drummer're too busy for hitting the cymbals). I dont even bother to check who is the drummer.

Armagedda on fullmoon, Abbath on Battles (and on Holocaust, too). So Pure Holocaust and Battles In The North have the same drummer (and style, too).

It seems Immortal never had a knack for creative cover artwork

Great album only if you apply a bit of personal remastering to fix the offensive hack-job done this to by whatever mouth-breathing ape they chose as their mastering engineer. For example, the tracks that suddenly end without warning at full volume. What the fuck is that? Put them through Audacity and apply a 10-second Studio Fade effect at the end of each one and all is good.

Written by LeKiwi on 08.12.2014 at 02:13

It seems Immortal never had a knack for creative cover artwork

my 1th BM artwork I saw and its classic to me, like it a bit legend

It's a step down in terms of immediacy and songwriting quality compared to the band's previouse two albums, but I do admire the punkier spirit coarsing its way throughout this recording. There aren'ty really any memorable tracks to note, but I did like the seething ambitious sound of closing song "Blashyrkh".

Written by musicalkaratekid on 10.04.2018 at 01:03

It's a step down in terms of immediacy and songwriting quality compared to the band's previouse two albums, but I do admire the punkier spirit coarsing its way throughout this recording. There aren'ty really any memorable tracks to note, but I did like the seething ambitious sound of closing song "Blashyrkh".

Quality is not best, but all here is to remember, read a lyrics or move to artic to understand this album and band.