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(January 2009)
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ELITE (Nor): "Kampen" CD
(Paragon International)
I guess it was a matter of time before a band from Norway arrogantly appropriated Black Metal's favourite adjective in order to bestow themselves a name. The two defining characteristics of this album are somewhat paradoxical. On the one hand, "Kampen" could have been recorded 8-10 years ago; not only is the style entirely consistent with that of that era, but so are the antiquarian production values. On the other hand, "Kampen", while adopting many of the traits from the Norwegian Black Metal (tm) formula, is not exactly a clone, indistinguishable from a myriad others. They are not like SAPFHIER or JERNBRYDE, both fundamentalist statements and nostalgic reminders of a style that has since fallen into neglect, but which is not quite yet ready for a forceful resurrection. Quite the contrary, ELITE have their own personality, and it is the attractiveness of the latter that demands your ear. The songs tend to be long and to focus on brooding, reflexive, and depressive emotions. This is achieved mainly through (1) the melodic content, as otherwise the riffing is strummed and the tempo does not dip into anywhere near the deathly tempos commonly associated with melancholy; and (2) through the apposite and non-predictible utilisation of a wide spectrum of otherwise familiar techniques, among which we ought to include string harmonisation and lead-emphasised melody. ELITER are, however, like SAPFHIER and JERNBRYDE, in that they have been excreted by tiny labels and have opted, consciously and deliberately, for black and white artwork white eschewing space-age recording studios, where it is more about the science-fiction jargon, the gimmicky effects, and the quantum-computing technology, than about being true to one's supreme immortal art. I realise some of you will be impatient towards what you might regard as old hat, but the Viking-themed “Kampen” actually proves hard to get out of one’s mind. Reviewed by AK-47.
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