Here we see Primordial at their bleakest, blackest, and most bare-bones since their inception. From the opening monologue of "The Heretic's Age", wrapped in blast beats and windy tremolo riffing, the band sets up the dark, stormy atmosphere that they have always done well. There isn't much of the folky acoustic guitar passages on this record as compared to the others so far in their discography, but they do show up here and there and are typically great, especially the inspiring "What Sleeps Within". Where the band truly shines, though, are their brooding, heavily emotional black metal epics, the best of which on this record is "Sons Of The Morrigan". With a great vocal performance and more excellent lyrics from frontman Nemtheanga, complete with a furiously passionate instrumental performance, this record marks the height of Primordial's early records, before they would start implementing more Celtic influences and instruments.
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