Svartthron are a new acquaintance to me, even though they have four full length albums out. However, they started in 2005, and the first three album came out in 2007! Their name is Norwegian, meaning "black throne", but the band hail from Lithuania. So, do their blackness sound different to Norway's?

Well, Svartthron are a totally different beast, to tell the truth. They focus on bleak gloom rather than fast and sonically satanic black metal, as the pace mainly fluctuates between slow and medium. Svartthron's black metal influence comes from the land of fjords, there is no doubt about it. "Bleak" is a term which is perfectly relevant, as it dominates not only the black metal portion, but also because being another, individual part of Svartthron's music itself. A lot of 'Brave Murder Day' (to you who still don't know your metal, this is the classic Katatonia album from 1996) and Shining style murky sonic landscapes to confront. There is no modern buzz; no need for it to mask shitty music, because Svartthron can walk with their heads up. They have created a very bleak album depicting one man's story, and even without any lyrics (didn't follow with this promo, damn!) it is so easily sensed, that it isn't a rosy journey. At least now without any lyrical guidance, sometimes there's too much repetition, and it feels that some kind a meditative state of mind would be the only right solution to listen to this album. Ambience has been intensified with some sound effects. The music was created and performed by Tomhet alone. The vocals were carried out by Australian fellow Mordance of Paroxysmal Descent. His anguished, echoing stertor fits well with the music. There are also some clean vocals and spoken words.

Sound-wise the album is good; in a way it is clean, but there are loads of layers to be explored, so obscurity is present. The drum machine was utilized, but it is very well programmed and is more than typical pattern repetition.

Overall, with 'Bearer of the Crimson Flame', Svartthron have created an absorbing album, with bleak and deep atmosphere. It is a well-designed entity of this style of black metal.

Rating: 7+ (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
12/06/2009 13:17