Genre: Black metal
Origin: Sweden
Released: 2006
Website: Unlight Order
Label: Temple of Darkness Records
Uploaded: 15.09.06

I was so eager to hear this CD when I got it. I had never heard of the band before, and the artwork looks absolutely stunningly sinister. So my hopes were set very high. Whether or not they lived up to my expectations is yet to be revealed.
Like a lot of black metal albums it starts off with a dark, occult intro. It’s a decent intro, but it’s still very much the same recipe as a lot of bands. But I do get a little disappointed when the intro’s over and I realize that so is the sound quality. Sure, murky sound is almost key when it comes to old school black, but you have to draw the line somewhere. This is still not the worst sound I’ve ever heard, but the drumming disappears every now and then, especially during the fast parts. The guitar and bass sound is alright, but it can still disappear when it’s time for the faster parts. The musicianship is not the best I’ve ever heard; the instruments are often very un-synchronized and you can hear apparent flaws and mishappens. So isn’t there anything good about the CD? Well of course… The atmosphere and aura of the tunes is awesome. It’s extremely chilly and fierce, and the absolutely raging screaming is killer! It is so bloody harsh, cold and haunting, and helps enhance the effect of the tunes. And the occasional spoken vocals adds yet another dimension to it. It feels a bit like taking the primitive old school sound and adding a touch of Watain and a piece of Dark Funeral to it.
The riffs are alright, the arrangement of the tunes is good, but all that is forgotten when the instruments are all over the place. I wouldn’t say this is bad as it definitely has its moments, and some are even just plain awesome. But it does need a facelift, a pretty big one. I’m surprised this is not just a demo, an early demo even. And I’m surprised the band is content enough with the recording to get it released. They’re apparently preparing to enter the studio to record a fullength, and I’m not really sure how that will go. They’ve changed some members, so maybe the result will be much better. But no matter what I hope they’ll go with the same kind of stark and killer artwork like they’ve used for the inside of the booklet!

Tracklist:
01. Vault of thy mind
02. Through the gates of torment
03. Key to the night
04. Sacrificed
05. Shine