Season Of Mist (2007)
Where Limbonic Art performed their symphonic black metal with their own designed classical parts, The CNK dresses familiar classical pieces with black metal not surprisingly familiar to Anorexia Nervosa’s two latest releases, except for the insane speed that is. Only the idea of doing this is music in my ears. Some bands have tried bits and pieces here and there, but not to the extent we can enjoy in “Cosa Nostra Klub”. Every track is built upon one more or less familiar piece of classical excellence, be it from the traditional composers or from filmscores.
Not every track is equally good, and that’s probably the basic classical composition’s fault, since…, well, I guess it’s a matter of taste. If you take the one in the cool titled “Total Eclipse Of Dead Europa”, it is nothing special. I dare to say that it is even too light, and it feels like the song is repeating itself after the first 30 seconds. The result is tiresome to these ears. But most of the compositions are very good choices. Especially the ones for “C[osa] N[ostra] K[lub]”, “Vote For Winners” (“Dies Irae” references) and “The Doomsday” (with theme from the Gladitor movie) are sure winners. I would definitely vote for them.
What about the music looking apart from the classical elements? Of course it doesn’t feel right to tear the songs apart, but still I’d say that the rather monotone midpaced black metal doesn’t make a difference in itself. However, this has to (obviously) be regarded in connection with the mix of classical music meets black metal. And the mix is excellent up to 90 %. I think the vocals are too intense throughout the album as a whole, simply because it gets a bit tiresome with the infernal screams all over the place. Hreidmarr has a tremendous black metal voice, the way we remember from his wonderful days in Anorexia Nervosa, but I think he could’ve calmed down way more, like he does in the final track “Inexorable Parade”. I needed a small break after four tracks. But don’t mistake my little comment on the vocals for being negative towards his vocals or the album, because this is truly something different and deserves a lot of credit.
www.thecnk.org
www.myspace.com/thecnk
www.season-of-mist.com
Composed by Roy Kristensen