The second offering, and first full-length album, from German black metallers Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult is something I have been itching to get hold of for quite some time. Living in the UK, this task proved mighty difficult, as can often be the case with underground black metal releases from across the sea. But finally, patience prevailed and was richly rewarded.
Follow the Calls for Battle was recorded back in 2001 and is one of the true highlights in today's black metal scene. DNS do not follow trends and are the epitome of true black metal; cold, powerful, violent music, devoid of compromise. No weak tracks to be found here and some of the most impressive vocals I have heard in quite some time, paricularly on haunting dark ambient interlude “The Resentful Wanderer.”
The thundering reverb of Horrn's drums and cymbals is one of the key focus points of this album, and the riffing is everything I could have hoped for (“Pestilential Deathride” being an especially magnificent and hateful blast of defiance).
Whilst listening to the more intense moments of this album, my thoughts were jumping about in a perculiar manner. First and foemost, the thought that this is what Mayhem should have become, and also the sound of Prince Vigo from “Ghostbusters 2" declaring "What was will be, what is will be no more..."
It's a scorching cocktail of Bathory, early Emperor (minus the keyboards), and their own hellraising style. Comparisons could also be made with the likes of Nargaroth and perhaps the glory days of Satyricon, but there is something to be said for leaving comparisons aside and recognising Follow the Calls for Battle for what it is: Essential listening if you take your black metal seriously. (10/10)
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