Pilgrim
Thron
German Black Metal has a special set of features that are personal from the country. They can't be found on bands from any other part of the world, because the evolution of the genre there is different (of course, every Metal scene of the world has their own features as well). And on the work of the quintet THRON isn't different from such model, as can be heard on "Pilgrim", their latest album.
Their music is filled with many set of funeral and sad melodies that contrasts with the sharp and bitter natural aggressiveness of the genre. It's a common feature from German Black Metal. But the quintet plays in a personal way, gathering influences from the abrasive ways of the past, but putting things into a new shape. Brutal, melodically catching, and aggressively nasty, the band is really great.
P. Hagmann, A. Kovats and C. Brandes worked on the recording and production of "Pilgrim" (with the last one taking care of the mixing and the mastering), and they built a fine blend between a defined and polite sonority with the abrasive and nasty approach of Black Metal. It allows the band to express their musical ideas in a high level, but guarantying that the album would sound brutal as well.
The brutal and darkened approach of "The Prophet" (a song filled with a fine technical approach and an excellent work from guitars), the morbid ambience of "To Dusk" (that shows fine screams from the vocals), the amazing harsh melodies of "Nothingness" (great solos on the guitars, indeed), the Black Metal storm of crude melodies shown on "The Reverence", the catchy aggressiveness of "The Valley of the Blind", and the earthshaking brutality of "Den of Iniquity" (with great work from bass guitar and drums) are the best moments from the album, but the entire album is excellent.
Maybe the name of THRON is one of the most promising in the German Black Metal scene. And "Pilgrim" is showing that they have talent and guts to become a leading force in their country.
9 / 10
Almost Perfect
Songwriting
Musicianship
Memorability
Production
"Pilgrim" Track-listing:
1. The Prophet
2. To Dusk
3. Nothingness
4. Hosanna in the Highest
5. Epitome
6. The Reverence
7. The Valley of the Blind
8. Den of Iniquity
9. Gaia
10. Into Disarray
Thron Lineup:
SAMCA - Vocals
PVIII - Guitars
TVII - Guitars
SXIII - Bass
ZIV - Drums
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