Review Summary: With All Shall Fall Immortal once again prove that they are a force to be reckoned with.
In 2002 the black metal band Immortal released their magnum opus
Sons of Northern Darkness, which marked a few subtle changes in their sound, mostly consisting of cold and melodic elements, marking a new era for Immortal. However, after the success they garnered with their new found sound, they suddenly quit the musical scene. One could not overlook their pretty impressive legacy, which is one of the best in the history of the genre. Now that you know that, it will come as no surprise that their return seven years later and its accompanying album were highly anticipated by the black metal community. Now,
All Shall Fall is finally here and it has turned out that these Norwegians, albeit their seven year hiatus, still know how to produce a thrilling musical piece of work.
One of the few things that can be noticed about this album, except for the fact that the musicians are once again playing at the top of their game, that the sound is pretty familiar to their previous effort,
Sons of Northern Darkness. What this means is that
All Shall Fall is a true black metal effort at heart, but the veins leading up to that heart are partially made of melodic elements. Just like on their previous effort, those melodic elements are very well incorporated into the general sound, and make the songs sound more invigorated. You could say it makes them sound more 'alive'. This might sound weird considering that black metal in itself is actually quite cold, but the combination seems to work out very well.
Speaking of cold, the lyrics showcase that more than anything on this album. The band has always had an interest in ice, snow and all things frigid and this album is no exception. The lyrics collide with the music itself, and create the dark and icy atmosphere that black metal is so famous for. The lyrics of the album are generally centered around Blashyrkh, an imaginary place thought up by the band, which is covered in eternal snow. It is the breeding ground for many interesting stories for the band, most involving some kind of war, which make the lyrics a pleasure for the ears. Compared to their previous efforts, the lyrics have actually improved, as they sound more polished and more diverse. You could say that the band has turned their ice blocks into ice sculptures.
The new found melodic elements can mainly be found in the area of the riffs, which are up to normal Immortal standards. The guitar playing is dominated by the heavy use of tremolo picking, which creates a quite melodic, evil vibe. The lead singer/guitarist Abbath knows how to create a fine riff as he showcases on 'Hordes To War'. It is an interesting track because it actually sounds like a war simulation, with some of his fastest and best riffing to date. On 'Norden On Fire' he shows that he is not all about speed, and can very well create a typical vibe with slower, heavier riffs. His guitar playing is just as cold as the vocal themes, but he manages to incorporate a more melodic tone once in a while, which makes his riffs and his solos all the more enjoyable.
Speaking of Abbath, his vocal delivery is nothing less that amazing. There is not a lot of variety present in his performance but here's what, it doesn't matter. His vocals fit the overall vibe of the album so well that the lack of variety can be easily forgiven, as his voice seems to have gotten a more evil undertone since their last effort, which is obviously a good thing. Strangely enough, his voice carries a sparkle of warmth and pleasure, which makes his vocal performance all the more compelling. His voice is a true pleasure to listen to, and it's a great addition to the album's frigid and dark atmosphere and it makes the lyrics sound even better.
Of course, even the best riffs need something to back them up, and Immortal has their amazing drummer Horgh for that. Blast beats or double bass, his drumming is utterly brilliant from the beginning until the end. It sounds even better than it was on their previous effort, and that is saying a lot. Whether it being the ambient intro to 'Norden On Fire' or the blazing speed of 'All Shall Fall', he does it all without breaking a sweat. With another flawless performance on
All Shall Fall, Horgh leaves all the black metal competition behind and can surely be named as one of the best drummers in metal history.
However, the great question still stands: Is this better than
Sons of Northern Darkness? Well, no. In the end, the minor tweaks to the songwriting and their sound in general are not enough to top their greatest achievement, and
Sons of Northern Darkness is still their best effort to date. Despite the fact that
All Shall Fall isn't quite as original or compelling as its predecessor, it comes pretty damn close and therefore I would recommend this to anyone with an interest in black metal. Let it be known, Immortal are back.
