Brumalis - Furore Normannorum CD Review

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2005-01-14 : valknut
A dark introduction driven by marching beat drumming preludes an album of unexpectedly decent Black Metal. Ominous, epic keyboards and aforesaid styled drumming mark the beginning of the first track Zeitgeist and are present sparingly throughout the album, lending aid to the aesthetic uniqueness of the band. The material on Furore Normannorum is a step above older Brumalis material and shows improved songwriting in the music's structure and a noticeable development in the guitar riffs. Brumalis excels in creating raw Black Metal with a natural atmosphere that is actually interesting, something that many bands fail to accomplish in these days of Blasphemy plagiarized War Metal acts and old Norwegian "Black Metal" bands drowning in banality and repeated albums. The drumming is quite primitive and fitting, providing a savage soundscape for the vocals, which are occasionally clean.

There is nothing over the top or "experimental" here; everything follows the standard model of this genre. From the eerie soundscapes of The Weeping Forest to the acoustic melodies of Departure, Brumalis shine with talent. The music is mid-paced and in my opinion it sounds reminiscent of late-90's Polish bands. I recommend this album to the NSBM circles and anyone with a passing interest in this style of music. It is rare to hear a worthwhile Black Metal band from the US and even scarcer to find an NSBM band that has bothered to release more than a horrid demo limited to the obligatory 88 copies. This release has the lyrics (well-written, at that) printed in the booklet and the design and layout is admirable, considering this is a self-released production. Furore Normannorum is an excellent release and I am very curious as to see what the future holds for the band.