GORGOROTH „“Quantos Possunt Ad Satanitatem Trahunt””

Music: Black Metal
Country: Norway
Web site: www.myspace.com/gorgoroth
Cool Songs: Aneuthanasia, Cleansing Fire, Satan Prometheus

If Norwegian black metal outfit GORGOROTH picked one song from their latest album “Quantos Possunt Ad Satanitatem Trahunt” to represent the album, it would be “Rebirth.” Not only does vocalist Pest exclaim “Rebirth of GORGOROTH,” Infernus has returned with a new lineup. The fact that GORGOROTH is back releasing records after the courtroom debacle concerning band rights proves Infernus is going nowhere.

Infernus’ new lineup consists of returning and new members. Returning members include Pest, the vocalist from early, pre-Gaahl material, and long-standing guitarist Tormentor. Břddel, aka Frank Watkins of OBITUARY, replaces King on bass, and DARK FUNERAL drummer Tomas Asklund mans the battery ram. Asklund’s constant drilling of the double bass is arguably the best drumming of the band’s long career. Most telling, though, is Pest’s return, which yields the type of results expected by fans of the group’s early material.

The sound on “Quantos Possunt Ad Satanitatem Trahunt” is much like Pest’s last appearance in GORGORTH. It relates a mixture of “Antichrist” and “Under the Sign of Hell,” but with the cleaner production values of the band’s newer material (just listen to the improved drum tones). “Anauthanasia” kicks off the album with a riff resembling “Possessed,” one of the band’s all-time greatest riffs. The said track and “Cleansing Fire” feature the type of warped string bending riffs trademark of the GORGOROTH name. “Prayer” has bleak guitar rhythms straight from “Antichrist,” while “New Breed” and “Human Sacrifice” include old school/NWOBHM-style galloping rhythms that may get listeners thinking of IMMORTAL’s last couple of albums.

Because Pest only played on a couple of GORGOROTH albums during their early, underground years, he is not as recognized as Gaahl. Pest’s main voice is not as burly as Gaahl, but he is more creative in his approach. Take for instance the album’s final tracks, “Satan Prometheus” and “Introibo ad Alatare Satanas,” Pest takes on a clean voice. The former track is of a Nordic stance; while the later includes a ritualistic voice none dare copy. Pest is the only vocalist in the GORGOROTH camp fully capable of this style.

IN 2006, after flirting with a style more aligned with death metal, GORGOROTH returned to the black metal sound of its early years with “Ad Majorem Sathanas Gloriam.” That was the last album featuring King and Gaahl. Although that album showed a glorious return, it did not fully embrace the past like “Quantos Possunt Ad Satanitatem Trahunt.” “Quantos Possunt Ad Satanitatem Trahunt” shows Infernus not only bring back Pest—easily the band’s creepiest-sounding vocalist—but reinvents the group with Asklund and Watkins. “Quantos Possunt Ad Satanitatem Trahunt” is truly “the Rebirth of Gorgoroth!”

note: 9/10

Tracklist

1. Aneuthanasia
2. Prayer
3. Rebirth
4. Building a Man
5. New Breed
6. Cleansing Fire
7. Human Sacrifice
8. Satan-Prometheus
9. Introibo ad Alatare Satanas
Total playing time 34:48

Line-up

Pest – Vocals
Infernus – Guitars
Břddel – Bass
Tomas Asklund – Drums