Digging to find the quality in a release like Rhinocervs's
RH02 is definitely not the easiest of tasks; the second unnamed band coming from the new black metal label Rhinocervs, is actually pretty incredible, that is if you can get past the production of an album that sounds as if it was recorded inside a washing machine. Sure, many would find this as a turn-off,but as any dedicated black metal fan knows, a raw production means nothing in terms of the actual quality of the music. Buried underneath the grime and dirt, Rhinocervs's official sophomore release
RH02 features an uncredited United States based group, one who heavily draws upon the works of the Les Legion Noires, and pummels away at four great tracks of uncompromisingly raw yet mystical black metal.
Rhinocervs is very much a black metal label; emphasizing art over artist, Rhinocervs often disregards crediting label output, and so far, their concentration on releasing quality material has been completely successful. Their name unknown to the world, this release centers around a band whose noisy, sloppy form of black metal is influenced by one of the genres most infamous movements, The Black Legions. In part, this is probably a large reason in the releases no-fi production values, an attempt to recreate the horribly low values seen on the majority of the Les Legions Noire's albums released almost twenty years ago.
With an unbridled aggression that recalls Belketre,
RH02, is atmospheric black metal styled heavily after the excellent Vlad Tepes. "Untitled II" features one of the best passages on the album, where black metal shows that it can have heavy keyboard arrangements and do them right . "Untitled III" is a track that should be included on every black metal fan's playlist; the unknown vocalist is literally a beast with a powerful, guttural rasp that is indeed very impressive. Musically, the track begins as a stomping, mid-paced black metal piece, that evolves into a blast-beat bound, magnificently dark atmospheric black metal tune that is eerily reminiscent of Black Twilight Circle material (something that just cannot be coincidental considering Rhinocervs will be re-releasing albums by all the Black Twilight Circle groups).
Whoever this band is they should somehow get a lot of credit, because for a relatively short black metal demo,
RH02 is a consistently great listen. pulling off some incredibly catchy melodies, tons awesome keyboard effects, and a primeval intensity that just cannot be ignoring. If Rhinocervs keeps releasing albums of this quality, they will be one of the biggest black metal labels in no time.
