The rebirth of Black Metal in the early days of the 90's wasn't an unexpected phenomenon at all. As a Metal genre dominates and eclipses the others (what Thrash Metal did with Death Metal and Black Metal in the second half of the 80's), the others drown into the underground. And in such time out of the lights of mainstream, these genres are recreated. Today, as the real time news are here, and the old and new ways are coexisting, to call a band as Old School refers to old sounds of the past. This is the case of Danish duet ILDSKÆR, as can be heard on the EP "Paa Dækket Kalder de Døde".

The musical work created by these guys is focused on a form of Black Metal that was usual on the early days of the 90's, with a raw approach, but rich on simple (but efficient and good) arrangements and morbid melodies. And unlike the ancients that used satanic lyrics or something in this way, they prefer to use lyrics with historical elements, and on this one, about a massacre to a Dano-Norwegian fleet by British, and it portraits the gruesome events and massacres during the First (1801) and the second (1807) Copenhagen Battle. Really a charming matter to be treated by such sharp form of music, full of energy and remembering the good old days from the past.

The band brought Johan Jørgensen to work on the mixing and mastering, to guarantee that it would be nasty and crude as in the past (to keep that organic morbid ambience), but in a way that can be understood. It could be better, of course, but maybe it's a good way to fit on the band's music. And the explaining lines on the booklet turns things understandable for people that don't know this history (as myself, I admit).

The intro and outro melodies are reinterpretations of an old Danish song called "Komme Hid I Piger Smaa" (which original melody was written by C.E.F. Weyse (1774-1842), and the text by N.F.S. Grundtvig (1783-1872)). And the morbid contrasts, aligned with a strong Old School charming appeal of "Natten Er Tyst", "Blodrøde Bølger" and "Den Sidste Orlogsmand" will conquer the hearts of those fans that still misses the past glories of Black metal during the first half of the 90's.
All that's left to say is that ILDSKÆR is really a promising name, but on the next time, a better sonority (just a bit better) would operate miracles. For now, listen to "Paa Dækket Kalder de Døde", and you won't' regret!