Global Domination | Reviews | Ofermod: Tiamtü

Recent updates

Recent discussions

Reviews

Ofermod: Tiamtü

13/11/12 || BamaHammer

It almost feels as if Ofermod is slowly becoming “the next big thing” in Swedish black metal for some reason. Sure, their lineup doesn’t possess any real famous pedigree and they aren’t exactly setting the world ablaze with progressive, cutting-edge touches to their brand of black metal. No, Ofermod quite simply takes care of business, and their fans and blackened aficionados everywhere seem to gorge themselves on the band’s brand of heavy-as-lead, groovy black metal.

On Ofermod’s classy debut, “Tiamtü”, the band gives us an essentially very deep, “bare-bones” black metal pummeling that is fairly reminiscent of a much more polished version of Darkthrone’s slower, more plodding tunes, though Ofermod does crank up the speed from time to time. The guitar is laden with depth and dirt, but not overly so. Chords are quite simple to pick out and easy to follow along from passage to passage, and while there is really absolutely no technical virtuosity in the riffing or songwriting, every track seems to create its own wonderful groove that will keep this album on repeat for a good long while.

Production-wise, like I stated before, the guitars are finely balanced between filth and clarity, but the rest of the sound blends beautifully on “Tiramisü”. All the instruments are handled by Michayah Belfagor, and he’s obviously quite competent and knows what sounds good. The bass is loud and provides a good solid thump as well as a deep foundation to the music that will rattle your innards at high volume. The drums while almost embarrassingly rudimentary at times are undeniably groovy and sound very tasty with a good sizzle on the snare and cymbals and a formidable punch on the kicks. And then there are the vocals.

The vocal performance, courtesy of the band’s only other members, Nebiros, is undoubtedly my favorite aspect of this record. You won’t hear that typical, hissy, possessed demon frog vocal technique you find on many of today’s modernized, polished black metal records. Instead the guy opts for a deeper growl that teeters near the upper, croakier realms of death metal sounds, but it somehow retains enough kvltness to me unmistakably black metal. It’s apparent from the start that his sound is for some reason inexplicably different, but it’s different in a good way and sets the band apart from the masses. As a result, whenever you hear something from Ofermod, you instantly know who it is as soon as ol’ what’s-his-name croaks out his first line. As a little surpise, you’ll also hear a few lines of clean vocals in “Pralayic Withdrawal” that stand out and make that particular track emanate a truly uneasy feeling. Good stuff.

Black metal is not dead. At least it’s not dead yet. As long as bands like Ofermod are out there churning out quality stuff like this, the genre will keep on keeping on. If you haven’t gotten around to checking out Ofermod yet, it would be well worth your time regardless of how you feel about black metal. This “Timantü” album is just fantastic. It’s aggressive, dark, menacing, and truly feels evil. If that sounds like your cup o’ tea, and I bet it does since you’re here reading this, go check this thing out.

8,5

Information
Released: 2008
Label: Norma Evangelium Diaboli
Website: Ofermod MySpace
Band
Michayah Belfagor: all instruments
Nebiros: vocals

01. Tiamtü
02. Pralayic Withdrawal
03. Death Cantata
04. Eu Angélion
05. Dreaming in the Veins of Kingu
06. Tophetian Cleansing: Furnace of Moloch
07. Khabs Am Pekht
08. Maasseh Nechushtan

Reviews