Review Summary: Raw and primitive bedroom black metal
Basilisk was a short lived, one man, black metal project hailing from the frostbitten hills of.. Bristol. Unlike many other similar bands (think LLN) Basilisk does not seem to focus on being unlistenable non-music, instead you'll find 6 incredibly solid, black metal tunes, full of awesome, surprisingly varied guitar parts and crushing drums.
Although the production is raw, everything on the album seems to be completely audible, the guitars are drenched in distortion and reverb, the vocals are ear-piercing, and the drums are violent and relentless, yet not obstructive. This album is definitely on the emotive side of black metal, The Master's Eye is reminiscent of Mutillation's DSBM, and the vocals are none short of tormented. The album does have its complexities, the main riff in Murder is far from the standard black metal riff, also the sudden shift into syncopation in 'Breaker of Wills' is great, and who could forget the robot vocals in 'Night of Terror'?
Overall Vintyrhell is a very solid release, nothing groundbreaking, as you can imagine, however it is definitely a step above many of its peers. The riffs are crushing, the drums will pound you into submission, and the vocals are simply evil.
