| Written by Alex Stojanovic TRACK LISTING The Twilight Order Sed Monini Tuo Da Gloriam Usurping The Obsidian God And None Shall Rise... The Devouring Mark From The Mouth Ov The Black Icons Stormite Ascencion Chaosborn Haereticus Stellarum Part I Haereticus Stellarum Part II Follow The Plaguelord Part II: The Harbinger Ov Pestilence Release Date: August 11, 2017 Label: M-Theory Audio Website: www.empyreanthrone.com www.facebook.com/empyreanthrone |  |
EMPYREAN THRONE IS:
Andrew Knudsen - Vocals Mike Brennan - Guitars Spencer Strange - Guitars Grey - Bass Leviathan - Drums
Andrew Knudsen - Vocals Mike Brennan - Guitars Spencer Strange - Guitars Grey - Bass Leviathan - Drums
I'm not an avid listener of black metal but I do enjoy a couple of bands like Dragonlord, Dimmu Borgir and Venom. When you generally think of black metal, you think of Norway and bands like Dimmu Borgir, Emperor, Mayhem, Enslaved, Gorgoroth, Immortal and Satyricon, but when it comes to the American black metal scene, there's bands like Black Anvil, Profanatica and Empyrean Throne, who we will focus on in this review. With one EP under their belts, Empyrean Throne have released their full-length debut Chaosborne. With the symphonic elements and chunkiness in the riffs, it seems that the band's biggest influence is Dimmu Borgir. Andrew Knudsen also resembles Shagrath vocally.
Some of the album's standout tracks include "The Twilight Order", "And None Shall Rise" and "Haereticus Stellarum Part I". Instead of using just the black metal snarls, Knudsen incorporates some death growls and even melodic vocals to keep things fresh in the vocal department. Melodic vocals make their presence known in songs like "The Devouring Mark", "From The Mouth Ov The Black Icons", "Chaosborne" and "Haereticus Stellarum Part I". The melodic vocals in the latter give you the urge to join in while raising your drink in the air. Knudsen can make his cleans sound both majestic and evil. Mike Brennan and Spencer Strange provide huge riffs that soar and crush.
I feel that some of the song lengths could've been trimmed down by cutting out a few bars of certain sections to avoid repitition, especially on songs like "Usurping The Obsidian God", "Chaosborne" and "Follow The Plaguelord Part II: The Harbinger Ov Pestilence". It would've made these songs in particular much more enjoyable, but that's just me. While the orchestral elements will get on the nerves of some purists out there, I think they fit really well and they add a different flavour to the songs.
As I mentioned above, I'm not a big black metal listener except for a couple of bands here and there, but I did enjoy listening to Chaosborne. If black metal is your thing and you're a fan of bands like Dimmu Borgir and Behemoth, I would highly recommend checking this album out and catch Empyrean Throne live when you get the chance.
Highs: "The Twilight Order", "And None Shall Rise" and "Haereticus Stellarum Part I"
Lows: Trimmed down song lengths would've made certain songs a lot more enjoyable, at least for me.
Some of the album's standout tracks include "The Twilight Order", "And None Shall Rise" and "Haereticus Stellarum Part I". Instead of using just the black metal snarls, Knudsen incorporates some death growls and even melodic vocals to keep things fresh in the vocal department. Melodic vocals make their presence known in songs like "The Devouring Mark", "From The Mouth Ov The Black Icons", "Chaosborne" and "Haereticus Stellarum Part I". The melodic vocals in the latter give you the urge to join in while raising your drink in the air. Knudsen can make his cleans sound both majestic and evil. Mike Brennan and Spencer Strange provide huge riffs that soar and crush.
I feel that some of the song lengths could've been trimmed down by cutting out a few bars of certain sections to avoid repitition, especially on songs like "Usurping The Obsidian God", "Chaosborne" and "Follow The Plaguelord Part II: The Harbinger Ov Pestilence". It would've made these songs in particular much more enjoyable, but that's just me. While the orchestral elements will get on the nerves of some purists out there, I think they fit really well and they add a different flavour to the songs.
As I mentioned above, I'm not a big black metal listener except for a couple of bands here and there, but I did enjoy listening to Chaosborne. If black metal is your thing and you're a fan of bands like Dimmu Borgir and Behemoth, I would highly recommend checking this album out and catch Empyrean Throne live when you get the chance.
Highs: "The Twilight Order", "And None Shall Rise" and "Haereticus Stellarum Part I"
Lows: Trimmed down song lengths would've made certain songs a lot more enjoyable, at least for me.
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