E.P. Review: Kriegsgott - H8 4All
Reviewed by Dan Barnes
One-man Black Metal machine, Shadow – he of Black Altar and Raus! - returns to his Kreigsgott project fifteen years after the release of the Legion ov Revenge album and a couple of spilt EPs with Armageddon and Silberbach.
For this release the multi-talented Pole has put together three new tracks – two songs and an extended intro – to be issued on a limited-run 7” vinyl which, in a world of unlimited downloads and ubiquitous streaming services, is the most Black Metal thing an artist working in the genre can do, save… (well, let’s not open that can of worms). The songs will be available digitally too, but it’s heartening to see the old ways still exist.
Beginning with an introduction straight out of a 1940s propaganda campaign, complete with militaristic drumming and the building of an unstoppable onward march, the apply-named Intro sets the scene for the intent of the actual songs on H8 4All.
The title track kicks in with an immediate, in your face arrival and, to begin with, the guitars are clean and the drums restrained. With the appearance of Shadow’s inhuman vocal the music takes a turn for the savage; reminiscent of Darkthrone’s lo-fi delivery, H8 4All becomes ice cold and dark pretty quickly.
Side Two features just the single track, Victory Through Intolerance Properties, which is one of the bleakest and grimmest Black Metal tracks released in a while and surely blasphemous enough to freeze the cold hearts of all followers of the Darkest of Arts. The rapid-fire drumming and frenzied guitar even manage to pull off a few hooks amid the diabolical noise.
Although short, there’s much to appreciate about H8 4All. With some Black Metal releases starting to sound a little too polished, it’s great to hear Kriegsgott and others out there keeping the Black Flame burning.
