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| CD: Rossomahaar - Imperium Tenebrarum | Released: 1999 | |||
| Reviewed By: Saad Aftab (Saad) | Rating: (4/5) |  | ||
What started out as a one-man project, in 1995, is now a 4 member band. Well 5 actually if you count the lyricist. Rossomahaar was the creation of Lazar. The bands demo "Grotesque" was recorded in 1997 and released in 1999 as an MCD. "Imperium Tenebrarum" was released the same year as the band's demo, and it features 4 new members: Kniaz'(bass player), Herr Stalhammar (lyricist), Ixxaander (guitarist), Sigizmund (drummer), with Lazar playing the guitar, singing and playing the keyboards. Rosomahaar hails from Russia and claim to be one of the first and very few true Russian black metal bands.
"Imperium Tenebrarum" is what I would call technical black metal. The production isn't completely raw nor is it totally slick. It's some where in between (maybe a bit on the slick side), but it's good. The music it’s fast, gloomy, and very original. There’s a lot of keyboarding in this album, but it’s put to good use and blended in well with the guitar. Which is why I call it technical. At times you can’t tell if you’re hearing a guitar riff, or a keyboard. The drumming, guitars, bass, keys, and vocals are all well balanced out throughout the album. My favourite track would have to be "...Of Shadowy Exaltation (When Night Blackens With Storm)". Another stand out track is number 7, "Portals Of Chaos(The Final Transmigration) which is a cover of Metallica’s "The Call of Ktulu" with singing, not an instrumental like the original.The lyrics of are fantasy inspired, so is the cover which depicts a shadowy figure riding a immense black dragon and it’s flying towards a dark castle of some sort. The band mentions that their the lyrics to some songs are based on Lovecraftian mythology.
The best description for this album is technical black metal with a tough of doom. Overall the listening experience is great, but you have to be in the right mood to fully enjoy what "Imperium Tenebrarum" offers. The only downpoint is that some of the songs sound too similar at some parts and it's hard to tell which track you're listening to. But that's only when you're not full concentrating. I would recommend this to metalheads who enjoy very atmospheric, dark and grim music. But if you only listen to "tr00" raw bm then you might not appreciate "Imperium Tenebrarum".
Rossomahaar's lateast album Quaerite Lux In Tenebris was released this year.
| CD: Rossomahaar - Imperium Tenebrarum | Released: 1999 | |||
| Reviewed By: Hussein Sherazi (MetalSaviour) | Rating: (4.5/5) |  | ||
1. Into The Domain Beyond All Horizons
2. Mists Of Eternity
3. The Spectral Prophecy
4. The Forlorn Existence Of Soul Divine
5. ... Of Shadowy Exaltation (When Night Blackens With Storm)
6. Imperium Tenebrarum
7. Portals Of Chaos (The Final Transmigration)
The debut of this Russian black metal band released in 1999 captivates feelings of extreme intolerance and exhumed protests. A shockingly honest and brutal effort to bring out the true feelings held by these tortured individuals. Hailed as one of Russia's great black metal bands, Rossomahaar mixes their power and talent with the message they are conveying to the absolute paramount of their capabilities. Their efforts are not unnoticed and this album sold over 5000 copies. An extremely high number when you realize that this is the debut of the label as well as the band. The album is not extremely brilliant in its production, technicalities or recording as it was done on the singer's computer, but it still manages to hold the attention of the listener throughout the album. The songs are raw, angry and quite good. The vocals are passable when compared to the superb drumming and outstanding coordination done by singer, drummer and bassist. The lyrics are wondrous; the messages are clear through the poetic verses that Lazar screams.
Even though the technical aspect of this album is quite blank and perhaps even dire, the content of the album is brilliant. The songs are captivating and create an aura of suspicion and negative feelings. I recommend that you buy this album as soon as possible.
You can visit the band's official website at http://www.rusmetal.ru/rossomahaar/ and download the entire debut and follow-up album.
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