There’s been some watercooler conversation about Darkthrone lately at the home office; specifically the difference between new and old and the new bands that pay homage to the early 90s era.

I got a couple of recommendations and this is the first review for the newer-than-new debut for Avmakt and it’s called Satanic Inversion Of… yep, so how is it?

Avmakt captures the essence of the primal era of Darkthrone, so think A Blaze in the Northern Sky, Total Death, Soulside Journey and Transylvanian Hunger. This isn’t a review of Darkthrone, however it’s about Avmakt. So again, how is it?

Fucking great, thank you very much. Avmakt are not Darkthrone clones, let me set that record straight right fucking now. This album hits right off the bat with “Ordinance” a slick Black Metal blaster, it really is a blowtorch of hellfire and the production shows that in a very brutal way. Second track “Poison Reveal” is a favorite delivering a battering ram “Cromlech” feeling in it’s deadly delivery, guitars that buzz like overdriven chainsaws and clear, organic drums.

“Sharpening Blades of Cynicism” is the third and longest track, clocking in at a respectable 10:02 minutes, it sports a few deft tempo changes that keep the song careening forward; it’s a wonderful Black Metal track and a true centerpiece for Satanic Inversion Of…

“Towing Oblivion” has the most Panzerfaust feeling to it, especially “Hans siste vinter” and “En vind av sorg” from that pitch black slab of Norwegian Black Metal, oh yeah Avmakt are from Norway too, shocker.

I can hear a bit of early Watain in Avmakt’s delivery mostly their Rabid Death’s Curse and Lawless Darkness albums.

Satanic Inversion Of… is an excellent debut, and closing tracks “Charred” and “Doubt and the Void” are perfect, perfect I say! Black Thrash meets cold as steel Black Metal with no frills, the former being a dirge that bursts into frenzied blasting and furious chaos in giving way to the latter.

At the end of the day Avmakt have opened Pandora’s Box and unleashed a powerful debut. It has great production, the songs are long but they don’t overstay their welcome, and the riffs and blasts are eardrum crushingly heavy. For you fans of Darkthrone (duh!), Watain, Sotherion, and the raw as fuck halcyon days of the early 90s. I wouldn’t steer you wrong, constant reader… You’ll like this.

[Visit the band's website]

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