By Mark Steele
Enthroned, despite being a consistently good black metal band, are not immediately one that someone would think of straight off the top of your head. Especially in a scenario where you are chatting amongst your friends down the pub about black metal, unless you had a couple in your group that had a massively encyclopedic knowledge of black metal. However, this is not a bad thing – it doesn't reflect on the quality of the band (as they have pretty much made consistently good slices of black metal throughout the years) and their latest offering Sovereigns is clearly no exception.
The album starts with the opener 'Anteloquium', an intro that sounds ominous and dark in a manner reminiscent to an apocalyptic film scene in a horror/sci-fi film before attacking the listener with 'Sine Qua Non' opening with a slowly developing cacophony of guitar squeal and a plodding rhythm before gathering pace into an icy sonic bludgeon and slow rhythmic parts that return to a full on feral assault. The sonic theme of the album is grimy and black in a manner that reminds me of Watain, but with an identity of its own as Enthroned have a long standing career that doesn't require the need to emulate their peers. It's also worth noting that the production of this album is perfectly sharp and cohesive, when the usual trappings of some black metal releases is to sound too muddy or treble high. Some may argue that this isn't 'tr00' or 'kvlt', but for some bands it works well and others it doesn't (Darkthrone have gone a bit 'hi-fi' lately and I feel it hasn't hurt them too much). With regards to the 'necro' sound, it can work well for some bands but not for others of the genre.
The bludgeoning menace of 'In Feathers and Flames' is one of a few noteworthy tracks. An atmospheric number with varying sonic dynamics of full on attack, that has furious fretboard work combined with melodious parts that convey an air of total inky black nihilism and despair that works very effectively. 'Lamp of Lights' is an interesting number that has a catchy groove that Satyricon seem to have forgotten recently, that builds into interesting sonic layers as the track progresses that adds interest to divert from a full on bludgeon that could perhaps get fatiguing to the listener. 'Of Shrines and Sovereigns' ups the ante towards full tilt speed, to slow to a more methodical pace as it closes. 'The Edge of Agony' starts as a full on attack, but then surprises the listener with a bleakly beautiful interludes of shimmering chords that adds atmosphere in spades which sounds absolutely excellent and makes for a superb black metal earworm.
To conclude, this is a perfectly solid black metal release that can certainly give the top division black metal bands something to worry about – and deservedly so. To me, Enthroned have proved themselves to be a superb black metal band that have been in the second division for too long, that despite many years of service don't entirely get the recognition they deserve. With the latest releases from Satyricon and Marduk leaving a lot to be desired and letting their guard slip, these Belgian sonic terrorists deserve to be classified into the top tiers of the black metal scene, and this latest album demonstrates their abilities perfectly. A serious contender for the top ten black metal releases of the year so far.
