The wild and icy winds of black metal started to blow from Scandinavia back at the end of 1980s. They reached USA soon, thanks to the virile tape-trading scene. Tenebrous are one of those US bands, who were influenced by this second wave black metal. The perpetrators behind the band is VJS, also known from his work with Kult ov Azazel and Nightbringer, as well as his own projects such as Incursus, and Armanen (also ex-Kult ov Azazel). And fuck it, they come from Florida!

Tenebrous were formed already in 1998, but it took years until they got their debut release out, the 2005 EP 'Arias toward the Black Sun'. Again, many years passed before this, the band's first full-length album, and their latest release to date, was spewed out. This is influenced by such Norwegian legends as Burzum, Emperor and Darthrone, plus Finnish hordes like Horna and Satanic Warmaster. This is about tremolo riffs and minor chord guitar playing. It all sounds so bloody familiar even to a pair of not-so-hardened ears. It does invoke some evil spirit, but isn't very chilly when compared to truly sinister black metal. The melancholic, gloomy side is also present in Tenebrous' music. On the other hand, 'Lords of the Black Stone' contains some psychedelic guitar work. The pace is mostly fast, and there is a lot of double kick drumming and blast beating on offer. When the band hit their meanest, they are well attacking. The slower parts, which do not happen in every song, are more melodic, in a way, and at times, epic.

There is also some folkish material here, especially the closer 'Solemnity of Ages' with its real folk music instruments and a great male choir. There's folk music element also on 'Imperium', as an intro. 'Magisterium' is a typical horror synthesizer instrumental with some female choir. Too Cradle Of Filth-ish for this album! These differing musical elements feel wrong on this album simply because they feel artificial in this environment. The main gripe about the black metal stuff is that it is not very memorable at all. The riffs are too familiar and the compositions aren't firm, but rather rigid, surely not avant-garde! Still, there is at least some diversity between the songs, so it does not feel one long via dolorosa, as some albums do.

The vocals are about high-pitched croaking, pretty slimy at times, black metal vocalisation, very orcish, may I add. It is on a bit comical side, to tell the truth. However, I've heard much, much worse. There are some nasty cries and shrieks. The lyrics deal about occult things: Mysticism, Dracula and Nazis. I bet the term "Nazis" made your mind stir, in a way or another. I do not know, is Tenebrous are a NSBM band or do they just observe the mystical side of Nazis (The Thule Society et al.). 'Triumph des Willens' is sung in German.

This time around, it's the guitars that are echoing, not the drums, except for the tom drums. The bass is well present in the mix, but it often gets rather flat, following the guitar too closely. The drumming mostly adequate, but there is some sloppiness here and there. The production slants towards trebly, even though the rhythm section brings in some lower frequencies.

If given more than three spins, and listened to with headphones, the music's rigidity starts to budge. If not totally, but at least slightly. This is more like a promising than a determined monolith of black metal, that takes influences from the second wave bands. It ends up sounding another band, that was influenced by the second wave black metal... The band is reported to be active, but it's been many years since this one came out.

Rating: 6 (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
01/18/2014 10:38