Odal "Sturmes Brut" CD

In a scene far over saturated and mostly doomed to poor standards, I feel that Odal stands apart as being completely untrendy, and one of the most passionate black metal bands I’ve come across.
The production here is slightly muted and pleasantly raw, without any graininess. The songs are mid-paced to moderately fast, bittersweet and half melodic Pagan black metal fury. It’s a delicate balance of somber tones, aural emotion, and intensity. A combination marginally comparable to early Windir.
Carefully fixed with trimmed up production, the drums fit neatly into the music. Nothing fancy, and nothing excessive, but tailor fit for the music with moderate blasts and slower rhythmic beats. The vocals are intense, passionate and vivid. A harsh drawn out yell, that can’t rightly be called a scream or a growl. Just a barely human sonic emission. And of course, the defining guitar. Totally cold, often dark, atmospheric, catchy, somehow more Pagan than metal ... brilliant.
This is not quite as refined or potent as their later work, but it really delivers on many levels. A great work by the Pagan masters.

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