7/11/05

OLD MANS CHILD / VERMIN

This is Symphonic Black Metal at it’s very best and to think this is only a side project fronted by Galder of Dimmu Borgir and he manages to find time in between his commitments with the main band to record this Norwegian masterpiece.

The CD kicks off with "Enslaved And Condemned" that has a lead in riff that sounds as if it was lifted of the Metallica Black album before kicking into a masterwork in Black Metal, with sweeping keyboards and has a heart black enough for the most hardened of fans. The album is total class from start to finish and is as perfect as modern electronics can make it and sets the bench mark for others to follow. The tracks "In Torments Orbit" and "The Flames Of Deceit" are flawless with plenty of dark, moody dynamics and just enough melody but not too much that it distracts, while Dimmu Borgir go backwards with the re recording of Stormblast, Old Man’s Child have their sites firmly fixed on a bright future.

TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 38 mins + 9 TRACKS