Gorgoroth – Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt
We are all aware of Infernus’ struggle to keep the rights for the band name Gorgoroth he created and toiled beneath for so many years, from the willing usurpers Ghaal and King of Hell. It has been a long and bloody battle, strewn throughout and perpetuated by the media… all glorifying a legal move by 2 non original members of the band, trying desperately to steal the name in order to maintain all the popularity the brand has earned for them throughout the years. The fact it went as far as it did boggles the mind, but triumphantly, the rights to black metals most pure band, Gorgoroth, returns to its rightful owner. And Infernus was ready to strike, for “Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt” sounds like the Gorgoroth of old that fell out of step when Ghaal and King of Hell were in the band and their affinity for more advanced/complex musical compositions took control of the helm. “Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt” revels in the dissonant Norwegian harmonies that drape atmosphere over these simplistic songs. The spacious riffs and structures of this album are a welcomed change of pace for Gorgoroth, and so is the return of Pest to the cancerous vocal throne. His delivery may not sound as over the top as his past works, but his familiar delivery fits together perfectly with Infernus’ writing style. He even offers brief moments of pitch singing as found in “Human Sacrifice” to add some diversity to his resume and depth to this album. Initially, this release sounded far too clean, shaving off the harshness we’ve come to expect from classic Gorgoroth, but repeated listens reveals this lack of sonic aggression has been replaced by a definite warmth, almost like an organic room sound that yields a different type of power. The mp3’s I was sent by the label for this review could be the culprit, but there is little evidence of Frank Watkin’s (Obituary) bass work on “Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt” which I guess makes him feel right at home. How so? When was the last time you heard his bass anywhere on an Obituary album? My point exactly! Having those bass frequencies would have given this album a bit more dimension, but the well written songs, solid vocal performance, and equally solid drum work of former Dissection drummer Tomas Asklund (who also co-produced this album alongside Infernus), more than make up for the lack of 4 string fury. It took me a few spins to overcome a production that is good, but a little too clean for my expectations when hearing a new Gorgoroth album for the first time, but I’m glad I stuck to the task and allowed “Quantos Possunt ad Satanitatem Trahunt” to work its black magic over my appreciation. Gorgoroth is back and has produced a worthy opus of correct, old styled Norwegian black metal that shall keep Infernus and crew firmly perched atop the throngs of new musicians that have ripped him off countless times over the years. It’s gotta feel like vindication for a man that has been under someone else’s thumb for so long. –Marty
Regain Records
Worm Gear 