CARPATHIAN FOREST

So many newcomers black metal fans probably don’t know that this band is one of the fathers of the Norwegian Black Metal, shortly after Mayhem, Darkthrone, Burzum and Immortal.
The Carpathian’s riffs of their first demo "Bloodlust and Perversion" were influenced by the ‘80 Bathory-Hellhammer black metal, so it wasn’t so personal, but a real revolution was awaiting the listener with the "’93 Promo" (vote 9), that I think to be one of the darker black metal release ever made. The songs were slow-doomish with a cold atmosphere, like watching a far light in an ocean of darkness, the totally raw sound was contributing to re-create an incredible morbid and sombre background. Some guitar arpeggios are

able to carry my head in a rapture of melancholy, and mystical obscurity. The ’93 demo and the first mini-cd "Through Chasms, Caves and Titan Woods" (1995 Vote 6.5) are far away from the ‘93 Promo standards, the doomish riffs are replaced by Celtic Frost influences, the only positive notes are the two songs stolen by that promotional ’93 resource of darkness.

Three years passed before the long awaited debut "Black Shining Leather" (1998 Vote 8.5), an album that demonstrate the different musical preferences of the two masterminds of the band. The Nordavind’s songs are gloomy, darker, and more symphonic, more Nordic, differently the Nattefrost’s approach recalls the Celtic Frost black-thrash and a rockish attitude, like Motorhead. Fortunately those two visions worked very well together but surely, for me, the better moments were evocated by the sombre Nordavind’s inspiration, not by the rockish rhythm that were reminding me to the hated Venom’s sound. There were some problem in the drum production and mixing, a real pity ‘cause it has broken part of the deeper moments.

The ‘99 Carpathian Forest 7’’ is an horrible release, with a decent Mayhem cover and a sort of rock-punk song singed in a black metal way, a real shit! One year after that fall here come the new album: "Strange Old Brew" (Vote 8). The Nattefrost’s rokish-black metal opened the album with three song played with energy and a certain feeling, surely better of his previous "Black Shining..." ideas, and Nordavind added his dark-doomish songs, with the same melancholic and depressive ability. Two awful punk-rock songs, a remake of a ’92 demo song and of an underground film soundtrack completed the album, who surely hasn’t disappointed, but at the same time hasn’t equalled "Black Shining", more complete and rich. While a lot of great black-metal names were losing their reputation Carpathian Forest were still marching, without reaching the levels of their ’93 promo or of the debut album.
"Morbid Fascination of Death" (Vote 8), released in 2001, is a fair album but it’s the last with Nordavind in the band. His contribute is less present and the result is a slow quality decadence, nothing new from the Venom-Celtic Frost front, the same load of similar riffs. But here come the darkness with the few Nordavind’s songs, totally insane and sulphur atmospheres, an immersion in dark tunnels...sometimes a saxophone kicks-in , creating nocturnal lines and an evasive mood. It’s a pity that the different musical souls aren’t more communicating, because the contrast is clear and shrilly, and sometimes it seems to listen two different albums.
Now Nattefrost is the only former member and it will be interesting to watch his future moves... will he ever be able, without Nordavind, to reach the same levels of the past?