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Review: Darkenhold - Echoes From the Stone Keeper
Darkenhold
www.facebook.com/Darkenhold
Echoes From the Stone Keeper

Label: Those Opposed Records
Year released: 2012
Duration: 41:00
Tracks: 10
Genre: Black Metal

Rating:
4/5


Review online: April 11, 2013
Reviewed by: Sargon the Terrible
Readers' Rating
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Rated 2.8/5 (56%) (10 Votes)
Review

A decade ago, France had a Black Metal scene that was almost unrivalled, with bands like Nehemah, Belenos and Himinbjorg growing out of the legendary Les Légions Noires. Recently I have been seeing less awesome stuff from the region, but Darkenhold could put French BM back on the map.

This is not "raw" BM, but heavy, murky stuff with a high degree of melody and a lot of songwriting heft. Classic Satyricon would be a good touchstone here, as Darkenhold also have a lot of space in their sound and bigger ambitions than just blasting and screeching. The guitar tone could be ruder, as it is kind of smoothed out, but the riffs are really good and the compositions are advanced and well constructed. This is at once atmospheric and riff-based, and it presents a refreshingly Second-Wave sound. I would like if the recording were a bit dirtier, but overall Darkenhold present a compelling album with a lot of mood and melody. Definitely a band to watch.

More about Darkenhold...
Review: Castellum (reviewed by Sargon the Terrible)
Review: Echoes From the Stone Keeper (reviewed by Memnarch)
Review: Memoria Sylvarum (reviewed by Sargon the Terrible)
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