Review Summary: Israel and Black Metal; two things that just don't sound well in the same utterance. Enter : Dagor Dagoroth, the band to change your mind about this.
Israel and Black Metal; two things that just don't sound well in the same utterance. Enter : Dagor Dagoroth, and "Yetzer Ha'Ra". The band and album to change your mind about this.
First thing's first; production value. This album has a really good sound. Everything blends very well within itself. Nothing really overpowers anything else, and this is a huge thing going for them, right off the bat.
The Guitar on 'Yetzer Ha'Ra' sounds less like the sometimes utilized, raw, punchy distortion you often hear in black metal, that is vaguely reminiscent of trying to record it in a garbage can, and more along the lines of traditional Heavy Metal. It is aggressive, and melodic when it needs to be.
The percussion on this album is spot-on as well. It can be heard very well with the rest of the instruments. The kick isn't too forceful, which is also great to hear. It is there, but it doesn't steal the show. The Vocals are very solid as well, giving the black metal vocal "prowess" absolutely no shame whatsoever. The Bass sort of takes a back seat to the rest, but is still audible in most parts. its solid in regards to hearing it in the grand scheme of it all, but it is nothing too special to make mention of
Next, are the songs themselves. Every song on Yetzer Ha'Ra is fast, and more or less following the route of the Black Metal sound structure. Giving you up tempo drum beats, shredding guitar riffs, low-ish to mid harsh vocals, and the melodic, symphonic keyboard rhythm throughout, with the occasional guitar or keyboard solo. Each song ranges from Five to Nine minutes, but they do not drag along in the slightest, and most of the length does not give way to monotony. With this album clocking in at a little less than 50 minutes, it doe not seem to take this long.
Dagor Dagoroth have been around since 2003, and 'Yetzer Ha'Ra' is nothing that most fans of Symphonic Black Metal haven't heard before, but the effort put forth is remarkably enjoyable, and it is an album not to overlook when given the chance.
Recommended Tracks:
- Heaven In Hell
- The Maze Of Madness
