Immortal - Sons of Northern Darkness

Recorded at the legendary Abyss studios by fellow label mate Peter Tagtgren (Hypocrisy), this 2002 release features grim, haunting vocals, crushingly brutal guitar riffs, and pounding bass thunder adding up to a superior black metal album. Album Description

 TRULY A MASTERPIECE
THIS IS ONE OF MY TOP 5 FAVORITE ALBUMS OF ALL TIME.
UNBELIEVABLE MUSICIANSHIP AND POWERFUL FROM START TO FINISH. March 23, 2008

 A blast of northern brutality
What we have here is one the best examples of death metal yet. This album is so full of intensity and good old fashioned power that I almost crapped myself the first time I heard it.

It's recorded well, and the vocals are a perfect fit for this style of music. Some black/death metal vocals are just plain horrible, but not here! His voice borders on the comical at times, and is quite unique. I love longer songs that have a variety of tempos in each one. It makes for great listening.

This album belongs in every head-bangers collection. These guys are awesome! March 20, 2008

 Immortal's Masterpiece
Although their sounds are distinct, this album reminded me of Dissection's "Storm of the Light's Bane" on one level. They're both catchy, accessible, and atmospheric, but not commercial. I don't necessarily look for accessibility in black metal. After all, Emperor's rather difficult "In the Nightside Eclipse" is my favorite black metal album. However, it is nice for a change when you can love a black metal album on first listen without putting too much effort into it. This is definitely one of those albums. This may be true for Cradle of Filth, Dimmu Borgir, and their clones, but those bands are only accessible because their music doesn't have as much depth or lasting value as the true black metal elite. [Note: This isn't to say that they are bad. Cradle isn't my taste, but I can stand Dimmu.]

Like much of black metal, it is missing the point to describe it on purely musical terms. Like most other black metal classics, it is the atmosphere which makes this album enjoyable. It's not particulary sadistic or sad. It's simply dark and grim. Necro, if you will. If any album conjures up images of the frozen north, it would be this one. It's the perfect album for dark, wintry days.

If I were to rank my favorite black metal albums, this probably wouldn't make the top 5, but I'd put it in the bottom half of the top 10. If you're new to Immortal, start here. There isn't a weak track to be found. June 22, 2007

 quite possibly Immortal's BEST release
Black metal in general is a love it or hate it affair, but Immortal represents the cream-of-the-crop, as far as I'm concerned. They also defy the stereotypical Satanic/anti-christian subject manner usually associated with the genre, with most of their songs set in a frozen mythical land called Blashyrkh:

"Blashyrkh mighty be your name victorious a kingdom we made
with strength and pride all the way you are at the heart of winter

The statue watches the kingdom your giant wings make all beneath
I'm staring forth the raventhrone I know I'm at the heart of winter"
(from the album 'At the Heart of Winter')

Yes, there are chainsaw guitars and blazing double-bass drumming, but there's also many atmospheric passages, all the while staying HEAVY as hell. Abbath's croaking vocals might not sit well with some, but it works - it really does.

"Sons of Northern Darkness" is a MUST-HAVE black metal release. Immortal are reuniting for some concert dates in 2007 - don't miss them!! April 17, 2007

 Pretty good album by Immortal.
This album is another pretty good release by Immortal. Not as great as some of their other CD's, but definitely not bad by any means. The band took a bit more of a mainstream turn on this album, but not so much that the listener cannot decipher as to whether or not the roots to their earlier releases are still present. Immortal did another good job with this album...as usual. The guitar work is outstanding, the vocals are pretty good as they usually are...and overall, the whole CD is definitely owrth checking out. Recommended! March 2, 2007

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