Recent updates
- S(crap)s: I Miss My Death / Kaoskult / Raus & Perunwit (split) / Spatial / Thy Flesh (13/06/14)
- Hatebreed: The rise of brutality (12/06/14)
- Vomiting Corpses: Coma - The spheres of innocence (11/06/14)
- Mayhem: Esoteric warfare (10/06/14)
- S(crap)s: Akrotheism / Black Altar / Druknroll / Enthroned / Funeral Sutra (09/06/14)
- Agalloch: The serpent & the sphere (08/06/14)
- Dark Tranquillity: Construct (07/06/14)
- In Flames: The jester race (06/06/14)
- S(crap)s: Souldrainer / Tonic Breed / Rude / Defying / Electric Hellride / Scorned Disciple (05/06/14)
- Culted: Oblique to all paths (04/06/14)
- read
Recent discussions
Reviews
Ljå: Till avsky for livet
04/12/12 || BamaHammer
Ljå is the Norwegian word for nostalgia. Not really, but listening to these Norwegian lads brings back some fantastic memories of the way black metal once sounded. “Til avsky for livet” is the only full-length that Ljå has yet to offer, but it does nothing short of deliver a groovy, catchy ride through the old tried-and-tr00 classic brand of raw, rockin’ black metal.
Though this album does fall into the raw end of the black metal sound spectrum, the production is not overly trashy or “nekro” in any way. Every sound on the album indeed possesses a very rough edge, but it’s a characteristic that makes the music rip and tear through you as opposed to lull you to annoyance through an abundance of muffled muddy mayhem. Every chord and note from the guitars and bass are easily decipherable with just the right amount of gritty dirt slathered onto it to remind you that this is some truly raw black metal.
The band truly shines in the songwriting department on “TAFL”. While not extremely original (and it’s not really supposed to be, I guess), tracks are all extremely catchy from the very first listen onward. A big reason for this is the drumming, courtesy of Kjød, who looks like a cross between Chris Adler and Jesus but plays like Fenriz. Fills are tasty and move you along from riff to riff and lick to lick with a smooth ease that’s a welcome change of pace from many of today’s modern grimfrostyblastblugeoners in black metal. There are several blastbeasts interspersed here and there, but they are cautiously used with great discretion so that don’t ruin the ever-present groove the band has obviously worked hard to hone.
The guitar work by Darktrond and Rebnord is solidly performed as well. As I said before, the chords are fairly clearly audible and very edgy with ever-present sizzling fuzz that sounds like it infects everything on the album. You won’t find a lot of interesting, flashy guitar leads on “TAFL”, but Ljå does change things up from time to time with some pretty atmospheric folky interludes that are a breath of fresh air from the power-chord infused onslaught.
There are tons and tons of great riffs and moments to be found on this album. If you like raw black metal that teeters toward the punk side of the game, Ljå is a band that shouldn’t be overlooked.
- Information
- Released: 2006
- Label: Aftermath
- Website: Ljå MySpace
- Band
- Hallwar: bass
- Darktrond: guitars
- Neievrut: vocals
- Rebnord: guitars
- Askeland: drums
- Tracklist
- 01. Til Satan
- 02. Til Avsky for Livet
- 03. Et Barn er Dødt i Betlehem
- 04. Vårtegn
- 05. TilgiDem Aldri
- 06. Vådeskudd
- 07. Svart
- 08. Granatsjokk
- 09. Blendende Lys
- 10. Gjort til Djevel
