Fucking Bölzer

[mickO)))]

The preview track is the best song they have recorded since CME. Love the clean vocals as well. Is this a new full length or an EP? I have seen it referred to as both over the last few days.

[Eoin McLove]

Four track EP.  Three full songs and a two minute interlude.

[mickO)))]

Four track EP.  Three full songs and a two minute interlude.

Thanks

[Pedrito]

It's a very good release. It's no Hero that's for sure. I try not to, or even tend not to compare albums too much so I'd be fairly happy as long as the quality remains high with any band. Hero is something quite special though, even when held up against this and all their other material, but that in no way is to disparage the other output which is claaarse. Ah fuck I'm comparing...agghhhhhh!!!!

[mickO)))]

https://youtu.be/Kww-Si5e_4o?t=236

One part that definitely belongs in the best moments in albums thread.

What makes the band so great and unique is the military type drum beats the varied vocal style (how he can change it so well to fit the current tempo at a given time) and the great lyrics.

[TurnTheAirBlue]

The last track on the new EP is some of their best work. I think the vocal performance is Okoi's best yet. His clean vocals have always been good but they are much improved and more controlled on this one. The production is monstrous on it!!! I have a nice set of headphones and it sounds fucking huge through them!!! Definitely going to travel to see them if they don't come over here.

[Eoin McLove]

Heading out foreign for the next few weeks so won't get to pick this up until I'm home,  but it sounds savage alright. Trying not to over listen to it into the LP and CD arrive.

[Pedrito]

Been giving this a good listen lately. It's class. Very different to Hero. The first two tracks remind me of Sons of Northern Darkness style Immortal for some reason. Would have loved to have a longer album format but beggars can't be choosers.

[Black Shepherd Carnage]

It is class. Everything they've done so far has been class! Subtle variations on a superbly rich tapestry.

[Black Shepherd Carnage]

Monthly update: fucking Bölzer is right! Feels like this is still getting better every listen.

[Pedrito]

Yeah man, totally agree. Had it on my headphones in the gym the other day and was in an absolute frenzy, throwing weights about the place, kettlebells, punchbag, sweat pisskng out of every pore. It's absolutely savage and gets better with every listen.  'Into the Temple of Speaeeaarrrrß'. They updated facebook the other day with a post about Hordane's Land. That and the new Bölzer one back to back is enough to start a small war somewhere.

[Eoin McLove]

Got the CD and vinyl last night and had it on this morning on the way to work. 'Shepherd in Wolven Skin' is a fantastic song but the rest sounds a little less exciting to me. That's my initial assessment,  at least. I have listened to 'Shepherd...' loads of times online but it had a immediate impact on me whereas the two other proper songs, not including the waste of time second track, seem a bit ordinary by comparison. I'm hoping they'll grow on me with repeated listens but overall it feels like the EP is a bit padded out with unnecessary elements.  Those interlude parts worked well on 'Hero' as they were short and the was so much meat on the bone anyway,  whereas on a short little EP they make up too much of the running time.

[Black Shepherd Carnage]

Not sure what you're calling "little interlude" parts, on Hero or the new EP. Both are fantastic complete works from where I'm listening.

[Eoin McLove]

The trilogy of Norns interludes on 'Hero' were fine. 

The second track on 'Lese Majesty' is an interlude,  not a song,  and the final track has kind of ambient nothingness for the opening minute or two and ends with more of the same. Padding, all of it. Maybe as the EP grows on me I'll appreciate those parts more but my feelings at the minute are against them.

[Pedrito]

Got the CD and vinyl last night and had it on this morning on the way to work. 'Shepherd in Wolven Skin' is a fantastic song but the rest sounds a little less exciting to me. That's my initial assessment,  at least. I have listened to 'Shepherd...' loads of times online but it had a immediate impact on me whereas the two other proper songs, not including the waste of time second track, seem a bit ordinary by comparison. I'm hoping they'll grow on me with repeated listens but overall it feels like the EP is a bit padded out with unnecessary elements.  Those interlude parts worked well on 'Hero' as they were short and the was so much meat on the bone anyway,  whereas on a short little EP they make up too much of the running time.

I felt the same at the start...for me it's a bad idea releasing 1 of the 3 or 4 tracks on an EP like that. It's such a class song and the other's are very different in tone. All.that said, once I played it 10 or 15 times it quickly turned into an absolutely brilliant listen for me. Give it time.