Review by Jack on December 11, 2001.

On the promotional CD I received courtesy of No Fashion Records, Mork Gryning’s latest album “Maelstrom Chaos” is stated as being; ‘one of the most brutal and violent black metal releases ever’. This opening statement above the track listing conjured immediate thoughts of cynical optimism. Fortunately for all parties concerned this statement could not be further from the truth. “Maelstrom Chaos” is perhaps one of the most pure and mature black metal albums I have experienced this year.

Mork Gryning with this latest album capture the same sort of black metal originality and innovation that saw new black metal juggernaughts Susperia receive rave reviews for their debut masterpiece. I stupidly had “Maelstrom Chaos” pinned down as a chaotic black metal release in the vein of Belphegor or another variation of black/death hybrid band. Boy was I glad to be proved wrong!

There are segments of “Maelstrom Chaos” that seem surreal and have one thinking; ‘Eh? What is this? This is bloody good black metal!’ Yet it isn’t really strict black metal and Mork Gryning’s tunes deviate quite heavily from the standard blandness some may associate with black metal. Mork Gryning is stark contrast are the complete opposite of bland, instead invoking enjoyment and an atmosphere that is enjoyable and not of ‘brutality and violence’. “Maelstrom Chaos” not being ‘brutal and violent’ and instead possessing the fun filled factors that Finntroll and Solefald utilize for their experiments in black metal is what makes this record such a winner.

‘The Darkness Within’ contains one of the best guitar and drum signatures thus heard by me on a black metal record and blows anything Dimmu Borgir wrote on “Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia” out of the water. Yes, it is that good. As is “Maelstrom Chaos”. ‘Bloodspring Mirage’ also deserves special mention as one of the better instrumental tracks this year.

Incorporating anything and everything from all genres of metal, thrash, death, black, melancholic passages and slight hints of Viking metal magnificence, “Maelstrom Chaos” is certainly an eye-opener for me and I could not be more happy with this record, and urge all fans of metal to remove themselves from their computers and run to your local record dealer and demand a copy of it. You will not regret it.

Bottom Line: Where the hell did Mork Gryning spring forth from? “Maelstrom Chaos” is a black album of mammoth proportions and shaping up to be one of my favorites towards the end of the year.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Originality: 8
Musicianship: 8
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 9
Overall: 9

Rating: 8.6 out of 10

Review by JD on January 13, 2009.

Angeldark, a band that is touted to do the Gothic Symphonic styled metal better than most anyone else has released the album called "Angelique". The question now comes to my mind... do they stand out in the Goth Metal scene more than most? Do they stand up to veterans like Crematory and others like that?

First off...They seem to have all the tools needed for such a thing to happen. Sweeping orchestrations that lull you and sort of carry you, until it hits and the sheer heaviness of their music batter through the serenity that is made and pulls you into that gloomy place that the more timid of people do not want to trod. They pound you withe pretty amazing guitar work that is in fact... impressive.

Angeldark are heavy, really heavy... almost having a thin shade of Black Metal to them, but don't be fooled... they are 100% Goth music. They are pretty good musically speaking, and have more than enough metallic bite to them to get most finicky of metalheads to take notice of them... but it is the darkness of both music and lyrics that makes them deliciously inviting. Songs like 'Wolf' and 'In My Dreams' are both musically pleasing while still sending shivers up your spine.

They show that Goth Metal like this is as good as some other more established genres that make up the melting pot that is Heavy Metal. My only critique to any of this is that I personally would have like a deeper sounding guitars throughout the entire album... other than that little speedbump in my head, it is still a great album that makes me smile.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 7
Atmosphere: 7
Production: 8
Originality:7
Overall: 8

Rating: 7.4 out of 10