There are dozens of underground labels which never reach their 100th release… therefore – before we fully focus on the WOODS OF DESOLATION release – congratulation to the Northern Silence team for keeping the international underground alive. The second full release from this act from Down Under is luckily supporting this event with a more than solid recording. It seems that next to their vital Thrash Metal scene, slightly depressive Black Metal is more than ‘in’ on this sunny island called Australia. The focus of WOODS OF DESOLATION is definitely diversity within the presented six tracks. All material is combining the same basic misanthropic mood but supported by hypnotic keys vs. (acoustic) guitars plus superb clean vocals in vein of "The Mantle" by these days very popular AGALLOCH. With these elements the band is in the position to keep the focus on the Black Metal core but furthermore extend the musical cosmos to a far more majestic level. But this majestic atmosphere would get far more attention with a cleaner / warmer sound therefore it needs some time before some layers within the aggressive tracks fully develop. Especially the tracks of side B – for all maniacs the advice that "Torn Beyond Reason" will be also released on LP format – are extremely well performed Black Metal. So give this act a chance and check following sites. www.northern-silence.de, www.myspace.com/woodsofdesolation