Genres: Black Metal
Label: Suffering Jesus Productions
Possibly one of the most messed up, schizophrenic releases I've ever heard, Tjolgtjar's Ikarkitomidon: Lord of the Forest can also be described as blackened blues, as far as I can tell.
To look at the album, the art tells you that black metal is what you're going to hear. Forest shot for the cover, a nice sunset over a snowy field on the back tray card. Look inside, there's an orgy around a fire on the skill of a horned nature deity (wickedtastic art by Zernon, by the way). It's all super black metal looking. Then you put the CD in.
The first song, "Fjor Tjell Kjindjam olf Hjoary" is super fucking awesome black metal! Then the blues solos, and even slightly country(!) riffs start kicking in as instrumentals, and even as sections of songs. After about the halfway mark of the disc you start wondering about your own sanity, let alone Rev. J.R. Preston's.
Production wise, this album is unique to say the least. I've never heard tones like this on any BM release before, and I doubt I will again, unless I get to hear some new Tjolgtjar. This is literally a once in a lifetime thing, because no other black metal band is doing this. Each note is crystal clear too, smooth, and all intelligable. It's almost like Beherit, Sabbath, Bloody Sabbath era Black Sabbath, and Iron Maiden tried writing an album together.
Then we get to track 13. The bluesy stuff continues here, as it's a song called "Free Flight", a cover of TED NUGENT! And one song later, the album is (sadly) over. And you have to listen to it again and again to make sure that you weren't hallucinating, and the stuff you heard is actually the stuff you heard.
Which it was, I assure you; I've listened to this album like five times before I could write this, which probably doesn't make sense at all. You're the one who is insane, however, if you don't get this album.
It's sitting pretty at a 8 out of 10. Standouts are "They Fall by Gunfire", "Ode to Dixie", and "Snakebite Cowgirl". Fans of anything at all can probably find something they like here. It's best if you have an open mind though.
Check out Tjolgtjar's MySpace.
-G.B.
© 2009 Funeral Rain. Questions? Email.
