### Ixxi: Assorted armament

#### 28/02/08 || Kampfar

Me and Ixxi are friends, friends in hate one might say, which means there is no bromance involved whatsoever, just pure hate and a fuck you all (with anything but a penis) attitude. Yeah, we are like ultra, mega hard, and our thoughts alone are enough to wipe out entire countries. Hell, civilizations even. Ever heard about Atlantis?

(‘popping pills’)

Those who’ve read my other Ixxi review, the one I did on their self-titled debut that is, already know they hail from Sweden and play mid-tempo black metal, and that it roughly put is the guys from Ondskapt in another foreskin this. Very roughly. Basics covered, time to move on.

“Assorted Armament” is not a big derivation from “Ixxi” – both albums released in 2007, though the latter recorded in 2006, but some small adjustment has been made. First and foremost they have ditched the electronics completely – which is a minor shame, at least for me, all the time I suggested them to further develop this aspect of their game – and in addition they have added a very slight touch of death, more in certain riffs than as a general feel, but nonetheless not a shame. All in all, however, this is still dirty, mid-tempo black metal with a general contempt towards erect creatures breeding live babies, minus the kangaroos me thinks.

Out of 11 songs, 9,5 are rather excellent, only the ender, “Praise on the Iron Mountain”, being sort of a stinker. I for one would have aborted this one, but there are lots of bands going through their career crafting songs never better than twice as bad. I hate the bands in question for their lack of self insight, choke on cum.

“Hails and nails”, a nice title there, is the so and so song, simply too long this one, or at least with too little of them fine riffs to make it a killer song. I wouldn’t have executed it with a set of knitting needles, nah-ah, but I sure would have trimmed it, with a scalpel, down to like 3 minutes +, max 4.

But, fuck me sideways, these guys needn’t my advice anyway, ditching the fx and still topping their debut pretty much puts a sock in my mouth. It turns out this lot needn’t more than basic instrumentation to create music rich with atmosphere, bleak at it, and for that I salute them. Keep on hating, I will.

Thanks and almost good night.

This band is like Swedish meatballs, an unspectacular yet still unique filling sure better than many a flamboyant dish.

8,5 spiked meatballs out of 10.

- Information
- Released: 2007
- Label: Sigilla Malae
- Website: www.ixxi.nu
- Band
- TotalScorn: vocals
- Acerbus: guitar
- Nattdal: guitar
- Avsky: bass
- Smoker: drums
- Hrafn: drums on track 5, 6 and 8

- Tracklist
- 01. Intro
- 02. Armageddon nobility
- 03. The oath
- 04. That we may kill the mocking world
- 05. In the name of nothing
- 06. Assorted armament
- 07. An epoch most cursed
- 08. Hails and nails
- 09. Hate all
- 10. Imperial requiem
- 11. Praise on the iron mountain