IT'S A TRAP! Scandinavian Music Journal

I Between two worlds Nuclear Blast

Wed, 17 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0800

"Between two worlds" picks up, in some way, where Immortal left off. In times when noone knows if said band will record more records, this release from ex-frontman Abbath comes as a great relief. Sure, if you're looking for "true" black metal, this isn't really up your alley as what we're facing here is a dose of classic heavy- and thrash metal. Influences from bands such as Motörhead, Bathory and WASP are very present and in a good way! It just goes to show that the classic metal acts are never to be ignored. However, despite these influences, you can still hear some Immortal-licks, especially in "Mountains". And Abbath's vocals are still as evil as can be. But, and there is a "but" here, not all is jolly good with this release. There are songs that don't quite cut it for me such as the titletrack and the closer "Cursed we are". You gotta love bands that instantly makes you think of favorite bands such as, in this case, Judas Priest, but there are limits. I mean, why buy the new Trivium record when you can purchase "Killers"? Why buy this one when you can purchase "Screaming for vengeance"?

Mon, 08 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0800

Stylus echoes many of my own sentiments on I's album "Between two worlds": http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/i/between-two-worlds.htm

MP3: I - Far beyond the quiet

Thu, 04 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0800

Abbath's new band I picks up pretty close to where Immortal left off and I think that's great. See, unlike most black-metal purists, I've always felt that the each of the band's albums was better than the one that preceded it. Besides being recorded terribly, early material such as "Pure holocaust" and "Battles in the north" just aren't that good. The promo photos? Still undeniably classic. But the music? Eh, I rather listen to Darkthrone if I want to stay tr00 and kvlt. I however, is something different. The cold darkness of black-metal remains, but the music is far more rooted in thrash and other, more classic heavy metal styles. Just listen to that song I've posted today and tell me that opening riff doesn't remind you of "Bark at the moon". Sure, it starts to sound a lot more like Bathory once the drums and ominous keyboards come in, but that too is a good thing. Abbath's croaking vocal style might be too much for some to take, but I think it just adds to the atmosphere he's trying to create. It's supposed to sound evil, y'know? Thrash on.

Thu, 23 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0800

This week's Norwegian top 20 album chart:

01. Jan Werner - Stronger
02. Bjørn Eidsvåg - Nåde
03. Vamp - I full symfoni (med KORK)
04. Odd Nordstoga - Heim te mor
05. Åge Aleksandersen - Snöharpan
06. Espen Lind, Kurt Nilsen, Alejandro Fuentes & Askil Holm - Hallelujah - Live
07. Øystein Sunde - Sundes verden
08. Kristin Asbjørnsen - Wayfaring Stranger - A Spiritual Songbook
09. Ole Ivars - Ole Ivars så klart
10. Thomas Dybdahl - Science
11. Aleksander With - Coming Home
12. Marit Larsen - Under The Surface
13. Maj Britt Andersen - Onger er rare
14. Knut Reiersrud/Iver Kleive - Nåde over nåde
15. Leif Ove Andsnes - Horizons
16. 120 Days - 120 Days
17. Hellbillies - Røta - Hellbillies' beste
18. Ole Paus - Hellige jul - Jul i Skippergata
19. Per Asplin - Putti Plutti Pott
20. I - Between Two Worlds

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0800

DigitalMetal reviews "Between two worlds", the debut album from I - Abbath's (ex-Immortal) new band: http://www.digitalmetal.com/reviews.asp?cid=7846

Wed, 20 Sep 2006 00:00:00 -0700

I, the new band from ex-Immortal frontman Abbath, has posted two new songs on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/abbathi