Hungarian Incantation lovers Tyrant Goatgaldrakona (note to self: metal band names rule) kill it here on debut full-length Horns in the Dark (note to self: metal album names rule), the band making their intent clear about four seconds into opener "The Mountain of Irkalla (From Life to Death)" (note to self, etc.) and not letting up throughout this entire 31-minute disc. Those who heard it when it first came out on CD in 2013 know what's up, but now it's available on wax for the rest of the horde who need to get drenched in the sounds that make up this band's sewer system infrastructure — and, like I say, it comes highly influenced by the mighty Incantation.
These guys do that band's grinding and up-tempo sounds perfectly, almost to a fault: while this is excellent, there's not a whole lot in the way of personality beyond "bunch of guys who love Incantation." And while Incantation's true power often comes when they go low and sludgy, that side of things isn't explored nearly enough here. When it is (see opening track again), Tyrant Goatgaldrakona prove they can handle those sounds with the skill of old pros, too (they also nail "psycho guitar solos" like old pros: see "Dawn of Decay"). I'm looking forward to seeing this band develop a touch more individuality as they grow into the beast that Horns in the Dark promises they will.
(Blood Harvest)These guys do that band's grinding and up-tempo sounds perfectly, almost to a fault: while this is excellent, there's not a whole lot in the way of personality beyond "bunch of guys who love Incantation." And while Incantation's true power often comes when they go low and sludgy, that side of things isn't explored nearly enough here. When it is (see opening track again), Tyrant Goatgaldrakona prove they can handle those sounds with the skill of old pros, too (they also nail "psycho guitar solos" like old pros: see "Dawn of Decay"). I'm looking forward to seeing this band develop a touch more individuality as they grow into the beast that Horns in the Dark promises they will.