### Smargroth: Empyreal cycle

#### 12/10/11 || sly

The band: “The leader and the founder Smargroth, from whom the band got its name, had dwelled in the musical spheres for many eons until he found black metal as a superior genre. He started Smargroth in 2006 and soon recruited new experienced members Kos, Vraan, Ulverbite and Oybl. In the fall of 2009 band published their first album “The Arrival of Necrotronian”, limited to just 200 copies. Two years later, new album, named Empyreal Cycle, that was forged for 6 months in dark secrecy, is promising to change your days into inferno.” This self-description is straight from their website.

The music: “Black metal demons Smargroth… finally unearth well hidden secret of their forthcoming 2nd musical opus, named Empyreal Cycle. Forged in the darkest atmospheres, the conceptual album offers 9 songs in dynamic black metal style and fantasy inspired songwriting. In the early fall of 2011 your boring days will turn into inferno.” Again, directly from what is, I assure you, a very impressive website.

The promise: Apparently my days will turn into inferno. Whatever the fuck that’s supposed to imply.

The truth: With the exception of three places on the record where it’s either clear soaring girl vocals, soft guitar and birds tweeting, or a mystical siren vocalizing in the distance, every minute of “Empyreal Cycle” sounds the fucking same. Blazing fast blastbeats, double bass kicks, and a small assortment of Marduk riffs. Their MySpace states their influences to be: Dark Funeral, Satyricon, The Abyss, Marduk, Gorgoroth, 1349. Sure, fair enough.

The verdict: It’s definitely listenable, but unless you’re a die-hard for pompous black metal bands who only sing about warriors, wizards, and magical fantasy worlds, you’re not missing anything you haven’t heard before. One-dimensional Slovenian black metal on an ego trip that very few will give a fuck about.

5,5/10: P.S. My days never turned into inferno. I want my money back.