Review by JD on December 13, 2008.

Belgian Metal certainly has been streaming out onto the shores of North America lately. I have heard many Death Metal and Black Metal bands from the small country in the last little while... but here is a Doom Metal group, which intrigues me to no end. I had heard the name before, but finally got the chance to hear them finally.

I am struck by how well they sound, flowing majestic as any opera could, yet they deliver something that is so completely heavy and brutal as any band that is out there. I am a big fan of the band Novembers Doom, and this takes me back to hearing those guys first. Thurisaz have exactly what the ND boys have to this day:... Intelligence, musical thought as well as that oh-so-doomy qualities that I live for.

I have not been so excited about a band since I first heard one of my all time favourites, Candlemass, for the first time many years past now. This band is avant-guard as all hell, but not too damned artistic as to have some metal heads turn away... they pound your head with their thunder as well. Thurisaz truly combined heaviness, intelligence and just plain all around class into one.

Thurisaz have a newer album out there right now, which I will be getting as soon as I can. Perhaps I need to impress that the readers might do that themselves too? I will be!! Get this one though.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 9
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 9
Originality: 9
Overall: 9

Rating: 9 out of 10