We can finally see the result of the self-titled debut album of Black metal band OVATE that brought together live members of the legendary bands TAAKE and GORGOROTH, released June 1, 2018 by Soulseller Records. Featuring only five tracks from a line of Black Metal to old school casts the album with all tracks longer than five minutes, which is something that balances very well. With strong and greasy riffs, heavy drum beats and roaring vocals, OVATE immediately brings the fire with "Morgenstjerne" and in a way that fixes his attention immediately. Unsurprisingly, they have a lot more up their sleeves as they take on a deeper, richer rhythm in the second half.

"Song til ein" continues to sound harsh but clean and is an interesting game between drums and guitar. In many moments, everything would become frantic and without coherence as in "The Horned Forest King," but it is only a brief flirtation and the melody surprises you in moments. With tracks lasting up to eight minutes, it's no surprise that OVATE uses the time to break many of Black Metal's conventions. Not going to the most common atmospheric route, instead, the five tracks that make up this self-titled release have an older and primal feel but without the crudity often associated with that style.

One of the best traditional releases of Black metal in years ends as strongly as it started with the intense "Inst I Tanken". The longest track on the album is filled with blunt riffs, crunching percussion and wonderful dark vocals. I like how the whole album was developed keeping all the main elements of the style but with a precision of titans.  We are not talking about innovation in Black Metal, but this too is far from being so dirty sonorously.  I would say that is the exact point for the style.

 Highlight for "Song Til Ein Orm".