Keep of Kalessin - Through Times of War [1997]

Way better production quality than the following album, Agnen. This is really just a straight-forward Black Metal album. There isn't the level of creativity that is found on the following albums. However, it is competent Black Metal and the production is good.

Rating: 7

http://www.keepofkalessin.no/

All ratings are out of 10. Rating may not be a whole number.

Keep of Kalessin - Agnen: A Journey Through the Dark [1999]

Let's get the bad over with first: The production is extremely crappy and the panning is purely retarded. However, it definitely has an underground recording feel. The music itself is very much Black Metal, but one can see the definite beginnings of taking the riffs into an interesting and unique area. There are some nifty effects and keys that come in here and there; they help keep things fresh. The songwriting is very good, not really creative, but certainly effective. If I'm looking for a solid, powerful, underground Black Metal album, this one will scratch that itch quite nicely.

Rating: 7.5

http://www.keepofkalessin.no/

All ratings are out of 10. Rating may not be a whole number.

Nightwish - Once [2004]

For the most part, this album could not be more different from Century Child. Epic songwriting and the best of their entire career (including Dark Passion Play). This is the proper way to integrate Orchestra and Metal to create a masterpiece. There is much less of the gimmicky songwriting that I hated from CC. The writing of the orchestra parts has finally become respectable on a Classical level as well. However, it's quite a long album with a decent amount of fillers in between the amazing songs.

Rating: 8.5

http://www.nightwish.com/

All ratings are out of 10. Rating may not be a whole number.

Nightwish - Century Child [2002]

It's fairly catchy stuff. The production quality is mediocre, but the bass-drum sound is pretty much crap. My biggest problem with the album is that they use gimmicky song writing techniques rather than the respectable complexity that can be found on later albums. The songwriting is not really up to par for a Nightwish album. Mostly uninspired, campy, and fairly boring. The catchiness can only make up for so much.

Rating: 5

http://www.nightwish.com/

All ratings are out of 10. Rating may not be a whole number.

1349 - Demonoir [2010]

Interesting production quality. It's more clear than Hellfire and I like that the vocals aren't so heavily distorted. The bass-drum is extremely powerful, but that's because it's now triggered. Not over compressed either. However, I feel like the guitars could have been a little higher in the mix. I like the use of odd instruments and style in the middle of "Atomic Chapel" and the song is certainly up to speed with what I prefer in my Black Metal. "When I Was Flesh" starts off just how I like it... fast and with no fucking mercy. There are some very interesting riffs in the song as well. It is at this point that I am beginning to realize just what a great album this is shaping up to be. If they can continue this song-writing quality through until the end of the album, it will be one of my favorite Black Metal albums. The intro tracks between songs are interesting and break up the action nicely. However, they are placed after every song on the album, making it a little too predictable for my taste, but I'm really just nitpicking now. They really have managed to keep the energy and song-writing quality up through the entire album. It's every bit as good as Hellfire, maybe a little less artistic in its form, but the production is a large step up. It may not be the most experimental or creative Black Metal album in my library, far from it, but Demonoir is fast, brutal, dark, catchy, and very enjoyable. Multiple listens are a must.

Rating: 8

http://www.legion1349.com/

All ratings are out of 10. Rating may not be a whole number.

1349 - Revelations of the Black Flame [2009]

Extremely slow start to the album. Things finally pick up towards the end of "Serpentine Sibilance". However, I fear that this is going to be a mostly Doom-inspired album. The production is punchy, but over-compressed when the bass drum kicks in. "Maggot Fetus..." starts off with more of an old-school 1349 feel to it with the thrash drumming and catchy power chord riffs before it jumps into a nice blast. Overall, there are moments where things get good, but this album is mostly too slow, boring, and repetitive for my tastes.

Rating: 6

http://www.legion1349.com/

All ratings are out of 10. Rating may not be a whole number.