Since the rather confidential, yet very good split EP “Überthrash” and a best-of compilation entitled “Deep Dreams of Hell” from 2005, AURA NOIR remained quite discreet musicwise. Still, everyone remembers Carl Mickael Eide’s fall from a window a while ago. Though the dude seems to have completely recovered, and the power duo composed by him (Aggressor) and Apollyon is now presenting a new full length, following the already ass kicking black thrashing album “The Merciless”. So what do we have here? As usual on every AURA NOIR release there are hints of classic Thrash bands riffs and arrangements! We were already used to hear some VENOM, HELLHAMMER, SODOM reeking of putrefaction in AURA NOIR’s archaic noise, but this time “Hades Rise” with an obvious liking for good old VOIVOD. Listen to tracks like ‘Schizoid Paranoid’ for instance and you’ll get the point! Don’t get me wrong though. Even if AURA NOIR might sound like this or that band, it is in no way a copy cat at all like countless retro Thrash use to do. If a comparison could be made, I’d put AURA NOIR in the same category as bands like late DARKTHRONE, PENTACLE, ABSCESS (a certain Danny Coralles is playing a solo on ‘Gaping Graves Await’) and SADISTIC INTENT. In other words, these are bands which know where they come from and which digested their influences in order to bring something new and fresh, yet sounding strongly crafted in the extreme Metal from 80s. A very subtle recipe if you ask me, and not everybody is able to do that. But AURA NOIR manages to do it brilliantly, and delivers a very strong effort there, as timeless as their great “Deep Tracts Of Hell”. So if you’re already a fan of the band, I guess you won’t be disappointed, and if you’re tired of this new wave of young retro Thrashers signed by every big label lately, this record might as well make your day. Contact: www.auranoir.com, www.myspace.com/auranoir, www.peaceville.com