I got to know Polish one-man antireligious black metal project Primal as I heard the 3-way split CD called 'Chapel of Fear', which also featured Deep Desolation and Iugulatus. This split release was a good one, as every band had their own thing going on there.

Primal's, or its creator The Primal One's, style is more or less strange black metal. For starters, its music sounds quite original with its many facades. But it also harks back to 1980s. So it is about renovating, more like, than about creating something truly different, as is usual anyways. More straight riffage and bits are accompanied by various passages of guitar (solos performed by Deep Desolation / Iugulatus man Markiz) and synth melodies. The atmospherics vary from diabolic to haunting, generally meaning something inhuman and invasive, or then just unsympathetic and eerie. 'Angel's Hatred' contains a part that sounds Motörhead-inspired black metal. 'Wrath of the God' sounds simply depressing. The title track, among its black metal stuff, delves into 1980s evil thrash and typical Morbid Angel vibes. 'Liars' gets most points for originality; weird drum beats just magnify its wrongful atmoshere. 'Book of Revelation' and 'Son of the Morning' are very dark and desolate songs indeed. There are two interludes, of which the latter one 'The Prophecy' adds antireligious atmoshere with its demonic speech and tormented choir.

The sound is lo-fi, but suitable and right for this kind of music. I like more about filled soundscapes, than those more hollow ones. Simply because when it's fuller, that drum machine and other cheap production defects get more buried under other noise. Vocals are unvarying inhuman croaking, even though suitable.

Primal is a one-man project, so it single-handedly depends on it, how well a listener is on the same "frequency" with the creator of this. I feel it occasionally, but not thoroughly. The music cannot be blamed for being too similar throughout the album. If you are looking for forlorn yet attacking black metal, that is also twisted, you might find something worthwhile here.

Rating: 6- (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
03/30/2012 00:39