One of the most striking musical movements from the last 30 years was the first coming of Norwegian Black Metal in the beginning of the 90's. Like NWOBHM in the UK, Bay Area Thrash Metal in California (USA) and Death Metal from Tampa (Florida, USA) and Sweden, the Norwegian Black Metal scene is a solid foundation that allowed the style to come back from the dead after years of silence. MAYHEM, BURZUM, DARKTHRONE, EMPEROR, SATYRICON and many others started a revolution, and its echoes are still roaring throughout the world. It's good to hear a band as the Norwegian quintet ENDEZZMA. From Hønefoss, they are spewing froth their hatred with "The Arcane Abyss", their second Full-length.

On their songs, you'll feel the presence of the bitter and harsh DNA from Norwegian Black Metal. It's brutal, aggressive and with that morbid and introspective atmosphere of the style, with some parts that are fast (not as fast as some bands from these days we are living) and on others some slower and sinister tempos can be heard. Obviously their musical style is not original as many would like to hear, but they have personality and their musical work is really very good. "The Arcane Abyss" was recorded, mixed and produced by Lars F. Froyslie and Fredrik Johannesson, with mastering duties by Tore Stjerna. They used a raw and harsh sound aesthetics on their duties to create that morbid and dense aura that a Black Metal album in such form must bear. But as well you'll hear that the musical instruments are sounding with nasty tunes, but the sound quality has a good level of clarity, allowing their songs to be understood for the listeners. The artwork for the cover, done by Geros Ramavounis matches perfectly with the morbid form of music you'll find here.

The bitter tempos and aggressive vocals of "Malferno" and "The Arcane Abyss" (this one with very good raw atmosphere and great guitars), that essential moldy and bitter sensation that the guitars create on "Morbus Divina" (with a fine work from bass guitar and drums, and s fine guitar solo as well), the slow and catchy marching tempos of "Sick Kulta Lucifer" (again, a very good work from guitars, and on this song, ex-BEASTCRAFT singer Sorath Northgrove appears as a special guest on vocals), the grasping and despairing darkened melodies of "Serpent Earth" (and very good clean vocals gives that essential desperate feeling in some parts), and the esoteric and morbid "A Grave So Deep" can be named as the album's best songs. But if we can assume that the album has such a thing, because all the songs are excellent.

Excellent album!