Ah Gorgoroth! Masters of true Norwegian unholy Black Metal. This appropriately titled debut Pentagram, left no doubt as to what Gorgoroth was meant to be.
The thing I really like about this band is that it proves beyond any reasonable doubts that one doesn't have to sound like shit or be of the old school type to be true or kvlt. Even if this is a re-mastered album, I'm sure as hell that it was sounding good from the beginning. The professionalism and musicianship is also very obvious and all this reflects in the songwriting. There's always a little something with Gorgoroth that makes them different and original. They have fast and vicious blast beats but also moderate tempo and pounding drumming, when not simply thunderous. No fancy tricks but some haunted and spooky distant church bells at the end of every track beside the closer. Rasps, distant or simply sick and wicked give a voice to their Satanic hymns. And the guitar work! Great crushing riffs meet melodic tremolo picking/arpeggios and leads, making you want to pick up your guitar a blow the place away! Precise, tearing and bone crushing! I really enjoyed tracks 2 to 4, namely: "Crushing the Scepter (Regaining a Lost Dominion)", "Ritual" (sick vocals on this one), and "Drommer Om Dod" as well as "Under the Pagan Megalith". The closing track "Maaneskyggens Slave", with a certain epic lead and a touch of psychedelia is worth mentioning as well.
