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Capricornus - Alone Against All
Copyright © 2004 Supernal Music
1. Alone Against All
2. Prelude To Sunwheel
3. Sunwheel On The Helmet Of Steel
4. The Blue Light
5. Something They Will Never Hide
6. Prelude To Bombing
7. Bombing The Certain Land
8. The Hall Of Ice
9. Don' t Bite It, Cut It!
10. The Night Before
11. Rivers Of Blood
12. Die Wilde Jagd
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Graveland-inspired melody in strangely smooth and comforting punk
music, this checkered album has both strong songs and a number of
questionable decisions -- keyboard/noise interludes that add little
between songs, a moronic cover concept, several attempts to make riot
choruses that fall flat -- reflecting an intelligent persona
attempting to curry others to his point of view. The music is
basically quite good although in the understated backgrounding that
happens when simple melodies are strummed at high speed for
atmospheric effect; like Darkthrone's "Panzerfaust" or Averse Sefira's
"Homecoming's March," the drone builds a sensation of order that grows
like the emergence of life in sudden rainy season ponds. Minimal drama
mars its course, but it is not linear, almost like a contemplative
voice of discovery (completely and bizarrely and utterly in conflict
with cover image, title and ostensible politics). Black metal vocals
fall spectral over lazy cadences and unambiguously beautiful riffing,
designed to enhance a sense of beauty rather than try to create
aggression; its wistful mien and soaring progress are balanced by a
few budget riffs of the punk/grind variety, but these exist more as
punctuation than communication: the essential message is one of beauty
rising from simplicity despite a surrounding aura of hopelessness. Its
general outlook and methods are reminiscent of the first Ancient album
or other early blackmetal that aspired to the world-reducing aesthetic
of foundational bands but preferred to retain the simplicity of punk
hardcore. It is impossible to dismiss this album, despite its flaws
and consequent inaptitude for regular listening, for at its best
moments it captures the spirit of blackmetal with grace and
sensitivity.
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