It’s been a while since something coming from Norway has captivated my attention. I’m not saying that absolutely nothing worth noting has been coming from the colder parts of the world, but there’s defenitely some genre fatigue going on there.
However, from time to time, it’s a nice surprise to be caught off guard, and Moonshrine has provided a very nice surprise indeed.”Hallucinatory Forest Rituals” is the band’s first demo and it’s a great experience for any Black Metal fan who misses the good old 90s Norwegian sound.
The demo offers fast paced and melodious songs that are very engaging to listen to, despite the very fuzzy production work found here. But for fans who enjoy a grittier sound (like yours truly) it won’t be a problem at all, especially because despite the somewhat muddy sound, everything is still perfectly audible and well put together. for the genre standards.
The mix of melody and violence throughout the demo is very well executed and the riffs and drums complement each other perfectly. Just as the vocals also do a great job, with the very distant screaming delivery that gives the songs very ghastly overtones.
Speaking of ghastly, the synth work is also quite pertinent here. Not overstaying its welcome and popping out in the correct moments for the best dramatic effect. Simply majestic!
Moonshrine is definitely a band worthy of keeping an eye out for, because it has the potential to be the next big thing from the Norwegian underground.
