Illnath
4 Shades Of Me

This one really caught me by surprise, which was a very pleasant one I must say. Denmark’s Illnath released their fourth full-length album called ”4 Shades Of Me” and dare to make an evolution which may become critical for their future as a band. Having left back their early roots as a more symphonic black metal band, they return as a more focused band and their style changed in something that many could call melodic death metal, though I find it a great sample of blackened thrash/death approach. In all words, they combine the three basic extreme genres and with the energy they have, they are worth checking for at first place.

The second surprise was the furious vocals of Mona Beck, I’m sure that if the fans don’t know we’re dealing with a woman behind the microphone, then their jaws will drop instantly. Forget the approach of Angela Gossow of Arch Enemy or Rachel from Sinister, this girl shows how a woman must sound in an extreme metal album. She makes the album flow even quicker than the almost 39 minutes of its duration, as you feel that all the members are in a race to reach her affinity, with the guitars having the leading role and the rhythm section (especially the kick-ass play of the drummer) raising the final outcome at least a level up.

”Blood Warrior” is a great way to start an album and since most of the ten tracks of the album (plus a re-recording of ”Angelic Voices Calling” from the band’s first EP under this title in 2001) are circling around three minutes, then it won’t be that difficult to be a fan of these tracks. I wonder what could happen if they had a second guitarist, but Peter Falk‘s guitar work is so great that this is the last thing they need right now. Furious riffing, excellent solos, melodic parts right in the place they need and some raising of the strings make the guitar work really irresistible.

Even on the longest track ”Not My God” which follows the shortest one ”Shade Of Me”, you won’t be tired at all. It’s a very good album for headbanging and a noteworthy effort of the band to try and bring three genres together in one album. They may remind you some Dark Funeral melodic parts, some Cradle Of Filth or Dimmu Borgir of the later ages (but with much better compositions and melodies) and also their rage reminds the outbursts of Behemoth’s Nergal in many parts (combined with the bombastic drumming which follows always in a speed race of who’s going to be the most furious one).

Another very good album from Denmark lately, after the one I listened from The Psyke Project. It seems it’s a good season for Scandinavian music already, but if Illnath take advantage of the raw power they show in many parts of the album and if they decide to concentrate to a genre only and adapt their sound to the likes of the guitarist’s skills, then their next album will really be a big success. The first step to evolution has been made and many fans of extreme music must find some time and listen to this album. Brutality, melody, speed, great production and good compositions are only a few of the positives. The rest are yours to discover.