The debut album of Germany’s STERBEND will definitely be a case of those like-it or hate-it albums. If you liked BURZUM ca. "Det Som Engang Var" / "Hvis Lyset…" – era or the fantastic SILENCER album, this will most likely appeal to you, as really everything reminds of those two bands: those very long depressive and repetitive songs (the album includes eight of them plus intro and outro), the successful yet never dominant use of keyboards and especially the very screamy vocals, which just lack a bit of the madness that Nattramn’s vocals had. All songs from STERBEND’s 2001 demo were re-recorded for this album, and four further songs added and – while I have heard people saying that the vocals were better on that particular demo – there’s not much too grumble from my side, the sound fits the aimed mood of the record, the guitars sound very cold but always distinguishable, the drums are recorded and performed perfectly, enriching the songs totally, and the overall impression is a very sad and thick one without becoming noisy for just one second. Those to whom STERBEND might appeal have probably already decided to give them a chance, and right so, with the absence of originality, there is nothing to complain here, especially since both, BURZUM and SILENCER, have ceased to exist. www.no-colours-records.de