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I have to say I'm fairly let down by this. I admire this band's later album "Tara" a great deal, and while this isn't a horrible album, it is pretty bad in places. I was expecting this to be pretty much in the same style, only more primitive. I was basically correct, but I underestimated just how bad that could be.

This is speedy, uncomplicated, thrashy Black Metal. The riffing is pretty solid, but the mix keeps the guitar pretty low, so it's hard to hear the good stuff. The drumwork is actually pretty dull, and I have to say I am shocked at how much Proscriptor has improved since this album, as his performance on "Tara" was a highlight of that album. Here he uses pretty much the same two standard beats for every song, and it robs them of a lot of their identity. Despite the complex lyrics and elaborate song titles, this is pretty simplistic stuff. The vocals really suck, alternating between a decent BM raspy scream and a more prevalent high-pitched yammer that sounds like Glen Benton in falsetto or something. There is some cool stuff here, but the rat-tat-tat drumming and the distracting vocals really bring it down.

The booklet is awesome, with a great cover by the inimitable Kris Verwimp and excellent interior design. The lyrics, as we have come to expect from Absu, are extremely deep and complicated, full of mythic and occult references. They aren't always the most euphonious lyrics, but they are interesting.

I really like parts of this, but the album's flaws pretty much ruin it for me. After giving this a few spins, I had to put in "Tara" to remind myself that Absu are actually a good band. This one is for Absu fans and completists only, as the casual fan is unlikely to find anything to attract the ear.