Tsjuder
Antiliv
Season of Mist
September 18th, 2015
The eightfold dosage of the devil’s work is upon us! 4 years have passed since the outstanding Legion Helvete and finally Tsjuder disclosed to us the new creation – Antiliv. Continuing on taking no prisoners, the band once again validates its position on the black metal scene.
No salvation or deliverance! It’s the pure Tsjuder at its best. You simply can’t get more straight to the point than with the opening Kaos – the characteristic Tsjuder sound makes the band impossible to be confused with any other outfit. Traditional black metal values are cultivated and Antiliv is firmly rooted in them. The speed and eagerness is no different to previous releases but the extra shot of chaos makes the new album stand out. The sound is impeccable and the whole album is recorded with a care for details which allow you to pick up a lot of bewitching moments.
Nag’s vocals remain on the very high level and, being a medium of spreading evil, act as perfect addendum for the album’s professional production. This proper anti-life mixture seems to be very diverse in spite of the apparent one-dimensional character of Tsjuder. The good black’n’roll overtones of Demonic Supremacy and its mid-track slowdown bring the touch of the old dirty metal and, interestingly, give Antiliv some form of freshness which I always look for in black metal. Also, the title song features the most catchy riff which automatically makes my head go up and down.
The limited edition of Antiliv has got a potential to be one of my favourite releases this year. The quality and attention to details is outstanding and it shamelessly stands for the True Norwegian Black Metal. It contains the rehearsal versions of three songs plus two cover tracks. Tsjuder covering Mayhem’s Deathcrush… Can you get more Norwegian? The other one is a tribute to the cult scene of Finland with a fantastic performance of Unholy Pagan Fire by Beherit. The box also contains the beautiful flag and band’s patch.
Antiliv is a little bit less uncompromising than the preceding Legion Helvete but it brings more novelty to Tsjuder’s discography. They might be comparable albums in terms of dynamism and energy, however Antiliv clicks immediately as a brilliant record. Tsjuder successfully consolidated its status and I hope they bring the same vitality spreading the plague through the live shows.
THE GOAT TAVERN 