My Plateau
(Crime Records)
35:38min
Symphonic Black Metal from Norway has quite a long tradition, bands like EMPEROR or DIMMU BORGIR established the heavy use of keyboards / synthesizer / piano elements. PROFANE BURIAL are also moving in this direction thirty years later. First of all: if you did not like this style back then, you won’t like the Norwegians’ second album either. Despite the shortness of six songs in 35 minutes, the material is very complex. Pretty much all types of speed are covered and at some moments the overall impression is more of a soundtrack, of course some kind of occult horror movie. But reducing the trio entirely to the genre Symphonic Black Metal is also a bit misleading, because sometimes it sounds more like rude and raw Black Metal. In addition, the vocals do not correspond to the typical Black Metal singing, but in some moments rather clear and understandable. And all of this, as said, in just over half an hour of playing time. That makes the whole album a bit tiring, at least for my ears. I can fully understand and support the artistic claim not to rely on catchiness, but this means that “My Plateau” is by no means a matter of simple listening. So if you want to get involved in independent Black Metal that requires a lot of effort, this is the right place for you. A strenuous undertaking, but one that will definitely be rewarded. So if you like Black Metal beyond the usual paths, you should get in touch here www.facebook.com/profaneburial or www.facebook.com/crimerecordsno
Mirco Szymyslik