Root: Kärgeräs, Return from Oblivion

Most people know Root as a significant black metal band from the late 1980s, a band that took the raw sound of bands like Venom and Bathory and gave it quite a bit of polish. There's actually something rather disciplined about Root's sound, something that fans have come to appreciate over the years. Key to the band's sound is probably Big Boss's clean and operatic vocal style. Even listening to Root for a few minutes gives the impression that this is a band with a unique sound and style. Many fans will also know that Root occasionally distances itself from the black metal label, preferring instead something the terms "dark" and "epic." Whatever we want to call the music, it is often very impressive.

Since 1987, the band has released several albums and has developed a strong reputation as a legendary and important band within extreme metal circles. With this album, the band's tenth full-length, the guys give listeners some of the best material they've done in the last decade. It's big and epic and dark and foreboding and, frankly, it doesn't try too hard to make a statement. It's just a solid offering from a classic band. No, the album won't win over fans that want to stick with the earliest materials, but the album is consistently strong and compelling. Check out "The Book of Death," and "Black Iris" for sure. I also really enjoyed "The Key to the Empty Room," even though it is rather too long.

Track Listing:
1. Life of Demon
2. Osculum Infame
3. Moment of Fright
4. The Book of Death
5. Black Iris
6. Moment of Hope
7. The Key to the Empty Room
8. New Empire
9. Up to the Down
10. Do You Think Is It the End?

Added: December 9th 2016
Reviewer: Carl Sederholm
Score:
Related Link: Band Website
Hits: 1471
Language: english

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