Even thought Black Metal didn't make that much of a progress since the early 90's, aside from production types, there is a number of bands that made it out of the black barrier and into a newly found darkness. Not that the German / Swiss UNLIGHT made that of a difference, yet they tried to maneuver their music between a few sub-genres like Thrash and a little bit of Death. For this year, the hard working band that began its dark tour in 1997, came through with their fifth release, "Sulphurblooded", through Massacre Records.

At first, the release sounded as if it was recorded back in the sub-genres maiden days (1990-1993). The production was shaped to be in a raw form, something that will draw fans of the sort. For me it was rather good because you can't really enjoy Black Metal if not being produced with at least a few old school and raw reminders. You can take the middle 90's Norwegian scene as an example. In addition to being raw in image, "Sulphurblooded" is a sort of an attempt to break the banality that Black Metal, especially the northern form, just can't seem to stay away from.

In general, the music is old school Black Metal, however, there are more than enough tracks that will show you otherwise. Great tracks as "Dead All Things Will Be (Part1+2)", "By The Seventh Spell - A Blackthrash Symphony", "Pale Rider - Pale Horse" and "Sic Transit Gloria Mundi", will display how UNLIGHT were able to merge the old art of making Black music with Thrash and Death. In my opinion, that was the best the band could do as they made more than just the ordinary Black Metal melodic fast trills. I don't think that doing Black Metal is all about finding the right melodic trill verse that will sound catchy and use it to the death, I believe that creativity should be in order.

In UNLIGHT's case, they impressed me by stepping out to Thrash and Death, however, they did the opposite, by playing the same parts that are equivalent to other bands in a repetitive way. Tracks that will show my meaning are as follows: "Invictus", "Become An Opponent" and "Sound Forth The Trumpets...That Shall Never Call Retreat".

I can say that "Sulphurblooded" is a normal Black Metal album but with a few endorsements. UNLIGHT's warrior figure is a nice one, yet, I have seen those before quite a lot.