
Info
- Band(s): Chevallier Skrog
- Label(s): Into Endless Chaos Records
- Release Format(s): 12" vinyl
- Release Year: 2024
- Review Date: January 16, 2025
- Author(s): FelixS
In many reviews of MBN’s work I have called him a workaholic or a restless soul, most likely, he’s both. But not infrequently, this does lead to interesting musical productions, my favourite from his rich oeuvre being, without a doubt, Chevallier Skrog. A band he blitzes us with several times a year with demos, EP’s and split releases, but with ‘Betrayal In Realm Of Two Pillars’ he treats us once again to a full-length. The third to be exact, as yet only available on vinyl via German Into Endless Chaos Records.
Just like the vast majority of the band’s previous output, ‘Betrayal In Realm Of Two Pillars’ sounds so very characteristic that anyone who has been following MBN’s musical footsteps will recognize his unmistakable signature. Yet, each and every bit out of the Chevallier Skrog back catalogue sounds quite different, and such is the case with this new album as well. This time he ventures in an almost Folky side of the Black Metal spectrum. But don’t imagine it as beautifully balanced layers of melodies and delicately crafted compositions. After all, we are not talking about Borknagar or Winterfylleth here.
Instead, MBN is manoeuvring his vessel towards Isengard, but clearly without losing anything of the trademark Chevallier Skrog sound. Which means the result is something that is as stripped down and minimalist as anything the band produced in the past, but now with a more distinct leaning towards Folk-inspired melodies. In fact, the album has a somewhat more mellow spirit. Even with humming vocals and a quietly lingering pace.
Yet, the devil is in the detail. More specifically, it the end of the devil’s tail. The last few songs of the album are much more akin to Chevallier Skrog’s earliest recordings, more up-beat, more Punky, more Black Metal, more raw. Especially ‘Devastated Spirits’ and ‘Rural Wastelands’ do harken back to the most primitive and Punk-driven madness of MBN’s main musical force.
That interesting discord makes ‘Betrayal In Realm Of Two Pillars’ an album that captures Chevallier Skrog at its best: keeping the powerful musical core of harsh sounding primitive Black Metal, but also keeping the listener on his/her toes for the entire ride because of its steps unto new territory. With that magic embedded into this latest album, I think it is fair to conclude that ‘Betrayal In Realm Of Two Pillars’ will eventually settle among MBN’s strongest output to date. Whether that “new” sound, specifically found at the very first 2/3 of the album, is where MBN is heading towards with Chevallier Skrog remains to be seen, in that case, this album might turn out to be a transitional record in its extensive discography. Time will tell.
Into Endless Chaos Records
- Country: Germany
- Style: Black Metal, Death Metal, Doom Metal, Thrash Metal, Other
- Links: Homepage, Facebook, Instagram, Bandcamp