Reviews: SAT104
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In the year 2015 the decent follower, even of the most undergrounded and clandestine sub-genres, has to realize the vast and unimaginable amount of bands. Sometimes it even occurs that a fanzine editor is using the name of a well-known fanzine / online magazine and this fact remains undiscovered for more than ten years. Very often it is pure coincidence what bands I listen to, the next interesting songs are just one click away. This time around it is ZARDENS from Belgium with their self-financed album "Blackness Unfolds", the five guys asked for a review and here we go. The second full-length by ZARDENS (still wondering about the origin of that name) is some kind of Death / Black Metal general store, which by no means is intended to be seen as negative. Nothing new or innovative, but the musicians definitely know how to handle their instruments and the sound is clear and massive. At first sight I thought this is the typical fast-paced Black Metal in the vein of DARK FUNERAL, MAYHEM ("De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas") or MARDUK plus DESASTER fashioned Black / Thrash Metal. But then I realized the biggest influence - DARKTHRONE. But not the Black Metal era, nope, it is the Death Metal period(s) of time, i.e. "Soulside Journey" and "Total Death". The one aspect I like most about "Blackness Unfolds" is the simplicity and straightforwardness. No needless elements, not even a riff or break too much. Some kind of Punk Rock attitude. But just the attitude, the eight songs (plus intro and outro) are blackened Death Metal (the term used by the band) to the bone. By mixing Black and Death Metal in this way the band avoids being a copycat and getting lost in the mass of sqillions of bands. As far as I am informed "Blackness Unfolds" is limited to 500 copies.
2015, nous en sommes de plus en plus convaincus, est une année faste pour le Métal Belge ! Si nos Frères du Nord en avaient inauguré le premier trimestre avec brio (NDR : relisez nos chroniques des albums d'Ostrogoth, Evil Invaders, Bloodrocuted, Scarved, Ancient Rites et Leave Scars), ce sont désormais les Hordes du Sud qui prennent le relais. Nous vous avons vanté, il y a peu, les mérites plombés du 'hÔÔvy' de Deepshow et les merveilles techniques du progressif d' Ethernity et Max Pie. Zardens inscrit aujourd'hui son nom, en lettres d'or et de sang, sur ce tableau d'honneur national.
Zardens, on s'en souvient, est l'un des gangs les plus sombres de la Cité Ardente. Créé en 2008 par le guitariste Warnacht (ex-Ex Delirium, Ex-Moribund), le groupe a sorti un premier album intitulé "Breeding The Dark" en 2012, chez notre compatriote d' Ultimhate Records. "Blackness Unfolds", le second opus qui sort aujourd'hui grâce aux efforts combinés du label russe Satanath Records et de son confrère américain Death Portal Studio, a été mis en boite courant 2013 par un line-up relativement identique à celui qui avait enregistré la plaque précédente (NDR : seul le mercenaire Jonas Sanders [Drakkar, Resistance, Pro-Pain, Komah, etc.] manque à l'appel). La bio fournie avec le CD promotionnel n'explique pas vraiment pourquoi le groupe s'est disloqué peu de temps après son passage en studio (NDR : peu importe après tout, ce qui se passe dans l'antre de la bête reste dans l'antre de la bête), mais elle nous présente un Zardens entièrement remanié et bien décidé à affronter les foules. Warnacht y est présenté comme le leader incontesté d'un nouveau gang constitué de Morholt au chant, Dimitri à la basse Flocky (Mutisme) à la guitare et Kevin (Aktarum) à la batterie.
"Blackness Unfolds" reprend les choses où "Breeding The Dark" les avait laissées, mais en y ajoutant une impressionnante série de superlatifs. Car si le premier opus était (seulement) un bon album de métal extrême, son successeur est carrément une perle du genre. Zardens y maintient sa ligne de conduite initiale qui consiste à réduire le fossé qui sépare Black et Death Métal. Tout en restant brut et sans concession, le son a gagné en clarté et en puissance. Un soin tout particulier semble avoir été accordé aux solos de guitares et aux nombreux passages mélodiques. Ces derniers génèrent un savoureux contraste avec les riffs agressifs, chargés en atmosphères maléfiques et les vocaux haineux écorchés à l'extrême. Sans vouloir dénigrer le travail technico-mécanique effectué par Jonas Sanders sur la plaque précédente, nous avouons préférer, et de loin, la frappe d'Oli qui apporte un côté beaucoup plus organique aux nouvelles compositions.
"Blackness Unfolds" est une décharge de rage et d'adrénaline déclinée en dix titres d'une rare intensité. Une pierre de plus à ajouter à l'édifice de notre fierté métallique nationale.
I remembered this Belgian band from their 2012 album ‘Breeding The Dark’ which was a good debut of highly proficient melodic black metal in the vein of many bands within the Scandinavian scene. At the time I said I hoped I was going to hear more from them and indeed band founder Warnacht obviously remembered, offering me their second album Blackness Unfolds for review. However it would seem that this is a chapter that is kind of going to be perhaps not totally representative of where the band are now as after it was recorded back in May 2013 three of the group involved promptly left and now the band are a completely different entity apart from Warnacht himself. Still as Blackness does Unfold we can still get a good idea of the progression of the band and again this is a good slab of melodic darkness from the group no matter what happened in its aftermath.
Some great thorny and intricate guitar work summon the lost sound of groups like Lord Belial and Dissection in on opening intro ‘Battle Rite’ which heftily storms into the blackened death furrow of ‘The Berserker.’ It bristles in with drums thudding and everything galloping off fast with a full blooded heathen cleave. Vocals from then singer Pascal Moraux bite and snarl away in the background and the sound is tight and bass heavy as it flails away. It’s all dished out with bravado and a sense of urgency before breaking down into some slower more melodic groove that allows the atmosphere as well as a solo to breathe into the music. Choppy and thrashing with a feel of bands such as Unleashed this pretty much takes no prisoners and is a confident start with a certain amount of complexity within it as the music flows through different passages. There’s a bit of a Viking feel to it all as it gets into the cleaving tumult of ‘Reborn,’ it’s nothing that you won’t have heard before but it’s certainly designed to get your neck cracking and no doubt has fists flung with spiked gauntlets clad in the group’s direction when they play live. Not sure exactly what happened within the bands ranks but I do get the feel that there is room for improvement here vocally as they are proficient and workmanlike but nothing more really. Perhaps new lungs-man Morholt has managed to bring a bit more definition into things now.
There’s little hanging around at all as the band romp through ten tracks in around 40 minutes, most of them angrily pitched and full of choppy, churning and tumultuous riffs. The counterbalance of aggression and melodicism is never lost with tracks often having a little bit of space within them for a patch of guitar harmony before cracking back in for a final gung-ho assault. Blackness Unfolds is an enjoyable album that sticks to its guns and comes out firing and hopefully it will serve well as a stepping stone for the new band to deliver something truly formidable.
ZARDENS ist eine aus Belgien stammende Band, die sich der musikalischen Richtung des Black/Death Metals á la DISSECTION widmet. Im Jahr 2012 habe ich erstmals Töne der Gruppe vernommen und Wörter über ihr Schaffen verloren. Über das Label Ultimhate Records wurde im selben Jahr damals das Debütalbum der Formation, Breeding The Dark, veröffentlicht. Das zweite und mehr oder minder noch druckfrische Werk, das mir heute auch zum Rezensieren vorliegt, hört auf den Titel Blackness Unfolds und wurde via Satanath Records releaset.
Nach einem knapp anderthalbminütigen Intro, in dem erste Gitarrenklänge zu vernehmen sind, geben ZARDENS dann auch direkt Gas und starten mit "The Berserker" in den ersten von noch neun folgenden Songs. Wenn man das Vorgängeralbum bereits kennt, wird man nicht davon überrascht sein, dass die belgischen Musiker nicht allzu viel auf Technik oder Modernisierung setzen. Blackness Unfolds zelebriert den Blackened Death Metal der alten Schule, ist nicht hochkomplex aufgebaut und versucht auch nicht, durch Lautheit möglichst viele Punkte zu sammeln. Eher beschränkt man sich auch seitens des Sounds auf das Wesentliche. Grob klingende und roh gehaltene Gitarren geben im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes den Ton an, werden von einem angenehm hörbaren, niemals zu präsent oder im Umkehrschluss zu weit entfernt klingenden Bass begleitet und schaffen zusammen mit dem Schlagzeug eine harmonische und einheitliche Klangatmosphäre. Auf diese Einheit stützt sich der Gesang, der wie alle anderen Elemente fast schon als klassisch gehalten beschrieben werden kann. Keine Soundeffekte, kein Tam-Tam. ZARDENS erbauen mit (vermeintlich) einfachsten Mitteln ein Album, das gefühlt weniger durch Umsetzung als Idee überzeugen möchte. Und angesichts der Tatsache, dass Blackness Unfolds in erster Linie ehrlich klingt, kann man dieses Vorhaben auch als gelungen bezeichnen. Um noch ein paar wenige Worte zur optischen Aufmachung des Albums zu verlieren: Ich finde die Idee und die Umsetzung des Covers einfach spitze. So simpel und doch so aussagekräftig, ohne dass die Augen unter übertriebener "Photoshopierung" leiden müssen. Das Thema wird auch von dieser Seite aus betrachtet wunderbar umgesetzt!
Wer auf der Suche nach reinem Studiosound, episch anmutenden (oder anmaßenden) Refrains oder ähnlichem ist, sollte getrost einen Bogen um die Werke der Belgier machen. Wer es gut heißt, wenn Musiker in ihrem Schaffen die alten Tage würdigen, der sollte aber auf jeden Fall mal reinhören. Und wenn man Breeding The Dark kennt und mag, dann sowieso. ZARDENS zeichnen sich für mich vor allem durch bodenständige und ehrliche Arbeit aus und nicht durch Über-Innovation und Technik. Neu ist das alles nicht und das muss auch berücksichtigt werden, aber es stört nicht. Aus diesem Grund gibt es auch "nur" acht Punkte für ein durchaus gelungenes Album.
The second album from Belgium's Zardens has a somewhat odd legacy. Though Blackness Unfolds was recorded in 2013, it was just released in April after the band essentially imploded once the album was done. Gone were vocalist/guitarist Pascal Moraux, bassist Frederic Kienen and drummer Oliwar, leaving only lead guitarist Warnacht to rebuild the band from the ground up.
But with a new lineup now complete, Blackness Unfolds is finally seeing the light of day. Yet whatever differences prompted the original lineup to splinter aren't readily apparent on the album. While there's nothing terribly fancy or adventurous about Zarden's sound, for no bullshit, balls-out black/death metal, these guys - or I guess I should say “those” guys - more than deliver the goods.
Blackness Unfolds recalls the early days of Mayhem and Dissection - with modest traces of vintage thrash and death metal - in its somewhat crude, but certainly effective, riffage and determined chugging pace. Warnacht and Moraux are lockstep tight here, mixing a slashing tremolo attack with abundant chunky hooks and a surprising amount of melody that they are able to roughen up with their brutish delivery.
“The Beserker” kicks the album off in an almost Sodom-like burst of old school thrash aggression before the blackened inclinations take over with the ironically titled “Reborn” and “Afterlife,” with the latter showing a bit of Dark Funeral-like dexterity and fire. “Slave To The Moon,” “Among The Dead” and “Empty Skies” add some complexity with their surge-and-slack pace and more epic construction.
For all of its bygone propensities, Blackness Unfolds boasts a clean, crisp and quite modern production, which gives the album a good deal of punch. A more low-fi “necro” approach might have left it sounding like mere idol worship, or worse. Instead, the bold sound gives the material a vitality and power that – for the most part - makes it stand on its own.
What the future holds for Zardens, and how the band will sound next time around – provided the new lineup holds together – remains to be seen. But the “other” guys set the bar pretty high for the “new” guys with Blackness Unfolds.
Satanath Records’ head commander Aleksey let me know, a couple of weeks ago, to look out for some auditive quality from my home country, i.e. Vlaanderen / Flanders, eh, I mean Belgium. And indeed, Zardens are the first Belgian band on this superb Russian label. Actually, sub-label SODP had some stuff from right here in a recent past (Scum Noise and Vox Impia), and in mean time also Angakok signed to Satanath. But first things first, and that’s Zardens with the Blackness Unfolds full length.
The band was formed by former Moribund and Ex Delirium member Warnacht, and in 2012 the band released its first album, called Breeding The Dark. Shortly after, guitar player Warnacht started working / writing on the second album, but because of line-up troubles, things didn’t turn out the right way. Eventually, the album was finished with assistance of vocalist / guitarist Pascal ‘Svardath’ Moreaux (also from Moribund, as well as, for example, Helgrindr, Ornaments Of Sin, Lost Amor or From Beyond), drummer Oli (Mental Vortex) and bass player Fred Kienen (also ex-Ex Delirium). And now it gets released via Satanath in co-operative form with sort of ‘reborn’ label Death Portal Studio from Colorado.
Blackness Unfolds actually isn’t such a grandiose album, because it is way too clean, too polished, too over-prepared. In the first place this goes for the sound. Indeed, the production is clinically correct, and I think it denigrates the hot-pepper-in-the-ass-effect. Rawer edges might have strengthened the anger and aggression behind the whole experience, I think. Besides, I think the whole is way too safe in song writing and performance, and therefore too predictable too. The introduction Battle Rite, for example, is such painful mistake. Further on the whole is based on riffs, rhythms and structures that aren’t that far away from the Swedish scene especially, with Dissection, Lord Belial, Naglfar and the likes coming to mind. Also elements from Norway and Poland are pretty obvious; the latter especially when talking about the faster, behemothish passages, the first one when experiencing some of the groovier excerpts.
Damn, this is quite a negative paragraph I just wrote. Does it mean that there is nothing positive to tell about this album? Well actually, there are lots of pros too to mention. In the first place it’s the craftsmanship and professionalism of the members involved that strikes me. All of them have a ‘history’ within the Extreme Metal scene, and that shows. Each of them know how to handle their instrument for sure. Also the cohesive equilibrium (which is the good side of the exaggerated-clean mix) gets to its peak throughout almost each single track. And despite the lack of originality (which isn’t such a ‘problem’ normally in case of undersigned), elements like the huge variation, the cool solos and the fine balance in between melody and energy, are details that might make this album pretty acceptable though.
Conclusion: I’m suffering from some double-bind feeling right now. A couple of times this album caresses my eardrums with bleakest nastiness (my masochistic half adores this), then again I’m disappointed by the evident progression of some specific pieces. Though, I am sure this album will surely find its way to quite a huge interested audience. The score beneath is purely undersigned’s personal opinion and I can stand the fact if you do not agree. But you know: [self-censorship…]
Zardens are back 3 years after the release of their debut full-length album with the followup, a 10 tracks effort totaling a bit over 40 minutes of mid-tempo to fast paced Black Death Metal music. The band seemd to be focusing more on the technical aspect at the moment, without betting too much on aggression or atmosphere, but that doesn't mean we're dealing with a mellow or mathematical release, not at all, it's just that they proud themselves of being honest (not using triggers and such) and delivering exactly what they are able to produce without too much help from PC programs. The instrumental part is very interesting, offering lots of rhythms, lots of different atmospheres, and being quite inventive, without ever falling onto overused Black Death patterns and probably that will make it a weird release for the current fans, but it won't be labelled as a copycat, that's for sure. The vocals on the other hand are good but not versatile enough to be at the same level with the instrumental part, a bit more tones, maybe some backing vocals, would have been great, but this way they can become boring very fast. Fans of '90's Black Death Metal (Swedish school) will definitely enjoy this album, too, but keep in mind it's not spiced with keyboards or rich orchestrations, it's as raw as possible while still maintaining a certain degree of melody, too.
Het Belgische Zardens nam deze plaat al op in 2013, als opvolger van debuut 'Breeding The Dark' (2012), maar de plaat komt door omstandigheden nu pas uit. Zardens was in den beginnen een tweetal, de line-up is inmiddels uitgegroeid tot een quintet, maar van de huidige band is alleen lead gitarist en oprichter Warnacht nog op deze indertijd als kwartet opgenomen plaat te horen.
Afijn. De Belgen maken (in feite maakten, maar vooruit) nog altijd blackened death metal in de stijl die furore maakte in de jaren '90. Denk Dissection en Dawn, maar dan net even een paar treetjes lager. De leads en riffs van gitarist Warnacht en de prima strot van zanger Pascal Moreaux zijn nog altijd de selling points op deze plaat. Een echt eigen smoelwerk heeft het nog altijd niet, maar het is in elk geval wel weer een lekkere mid nineties blackened death plaat met een prima mix tussen power en melodie. Een stijgende lijn ten opzichte van 'Breeding The Dark' zie ik wel, dus een iets hogere score ditmaal. 'Blackness Unfolds' is gelimiteerd tot 500 stuks. - See more at: http://www.lordsofmetal.nl/nl/reviews/view/id/29896#sthash.v42JPhLe.dpuf
Una voce quasi atonale, ritmi martellanti e la passione comune per impastare la pece con il Death Metal: questo è il profilo dei belgi Zardens, giunti al secondo lavoro in sette anni di vita. Il sodo impegno mostrato sul sito del gruppo e su Facebook per promuovere "Blackness Unfolds" lascia presumere un obiettivo commerciale di rilievo. Che cosa ci dice a riguardo l'ascolto del disco?
L'introduzione marziale si trasforma ben presto in una tempesta Death-Thrash nera come il bitume e chiamata a ragione "The Berserker". I Zardens lasciano aperte le frontiere fra i generi, dando spazio nella stessa canzone a frasi provenienti da diversi stili estremi. Lo spago usato per legare il mazzo è però stato comprato all'IKEA: i tocchi degli immancabili Dissection sono chiaramente udibili, così come alcuni accenni ai Bathory del dopo 1987. L'oculato impiego di melodie offre più spazio all'impatto sui timpani e sulle cervicali, il quintetto elimina così il rischio di far scivolare il tutto in un melmoso kitsch. Le composizioni sono robuste, ben costruite, la tecnica esecutiva è discreta e la produzione nitida. Questo pacchetto è dedicato a tutti quegli ascoltatori felici di essere intrattenuti alla buona con musica di facile ascolto.
"Blackness Unfolds" è nel suo insieme elaborato, ma anche piuttosto piatto con i suoi innumerevoli déjà vu. Troverete sicuramente qui e là spunti divertenti che però non bastano a far decollare il disco e a entusiasmare l'utente. Il lavoro è comunque da consigliare a chiunque prediliga Death-Black scorrevole in stile svedese e di buona fattura.
I belgi Zardens hanno a mio avviso intravisto la formula vincente, ma non l’hanno colta appieno. Mischiare il death con il black è difficile e a tratti forzato, ma questi ragazzacci non se ne curano affatto e riescono, anche se solo in parte, in una commistione piuttosto ardita. Quello che non mi convince appieno è il risultato finale. In un’unica traccia fa davvero piacere trovare batterie tipicamente death mischiate a chitarre della nera arte musicale, ma spesso l’accostamento risulta parziale. La sensazione che aleggia nell’intero platter è che tratti di canzone siano stati mischiati a casaccio con altri. Non c’è una struttura ben definita che leghi tra loro in modo saldo i diversi elementi. La prima conseguenza negativa è la stucchevolezza delle singole parti che, non adeguatamente legate, dimostrano tutta la loro semplicità ed ingenuità. Insomma, la strada imbucata è quella giusta. Arrivare alla meta però è tutta un’altra storia…
There is a squishy part of my body reserved for both Blackened Death Metal and Melodic Black Metal. Either of these styles, done well, make it throb with gushing joy and ZARDENS seem to have poked me in that place with a nice pointy stick.
The Belgian Blackened Death machine released their first full-length album in 2013, and not too long after, founding member Warnacht, found himself with several less band members than anticipated. This didn't deter him though and after gathering the right combination of musicians together, he has let loose their second album “Blackness Unfolds”. I know that you are probably thinking that is one of the most a-typical Metal album titles you could come up with and you are damn right. The whole album, in fact, is full of song titles that feel like they have just been spat out of some name generator geared up for people that have a penchant for violence and some mild fetish for Satanism.
Don't let that deceive you though, as the music itself is great and ticks all of the right boxes for this genre. Opening up with a good old bit of melodic guitar twankery, drenched in tremolo and reverb, certainly sets a pace for the album. This is quickly pounded into oblivion by “The Berserker”, and strangely enough, I can't get NILE out of my head whenever I listen to this song. It is very reminiscent to “Lashed To The Slave Stick” or just about anything from “Annihilation Of The Wicked”. The only thing that stops it sounding like a perfect match is the depth on the vocals. Unfortunately, they just don't quite have the same throaty, full of balls feel that you get with Karl Sanders or Dallas Toler-Wade.
The rest of the album is much more Blackened than this though, and there are even light dustings of Thrash in songs like “Slave To The Moon” that really help to give the band a good sense of something slightly different about them. I guess it's this mixed with the elements of Black & Death Metal that tickles my squishy place. I'm a sucker for things that are dark and angry, even when they are fairly generic. This is definitely not a simple Metal by numbers job, however some clear care has been taken in writing the album.
I would not say that this is a masterpiece by any means though, and there is still a long way for ZARDENS to go before they are on the same kind of plateau as bands like NILE or BEHEMOTH. This is maybe not an album for die-hard fans of either Black or Death Metal, but it could fit nicely into the tastes of someone like me that flippantly bounces between the two like a bi-polar pogo stick.
http://www.metal-temple.com/site/catalogues/entry/reviews/cd_3/z_2/zardens-blackness.htm
Well well, my patriotism is kicking up again. Once again a Belgian band reaches our headquarders and once again I'm tapping along with the rhythm of the music. Some people might know that, politically, our country is divided into a Flemish (Dutch speaking) and a Walloon (French speaking) side. Musically however, Belgium stands as one, opposing the forces that try to tear us apart completely. True, we might not always know about the bands on the other side, but when we discover them, it's usually love at first sight.
Zardens hails from Liège, a city that has pleasantly surprised us a lot in the past. By now it seems to me that Liège shows a thriving metal scene and Zardens surely is a part of that scene. The band was founded in 2008 by Warnacht (former member of Moribund and Ex Delirium). After their debut in 2012, Zardens was asked to support Immolation. 'Blackness Unfolds' was recorded in 2013 but line-up problems left the album on the shelf until now. Too bad, to be honest, because this is an excellent blend of black & death metal.
The album opens with 'Battle Rite', the intro and blasts off with 'The Berzerker'. Very soon I'm reminded of the forerunners of the Belgian black metal scene, Ancient Rites. Fast-paced and aggressive but melodic and immersive, those seem to be key-elements for Zardens. Influences from nineties Scandinavian bands are also very present, turning the whole into a well-varied and well-written album. 'Reborn' digs a bit deeper into grinding death metal, especially with the massive sound of the guitars.
The album never lets go if its grip. In stead it keeps on blasting these complex but ravishing songs through my speakers. Other highlights are the thrashy 'Slave To The Moon' and the brutal 'Lifeblood'. Yet, it's hard to pick these favorites. Each of these songs shows a great deal of songwriting and craftsmanship and obviously also experience. In my opinion, it's about time this band crosses the language barrier (since all the songs are in English anyway) and follow Ancient Rites on their path to dominate Europe.
http://www.merchantsofair.com/reviews/zardens-blackness-unfolds
Zardens ist eine Black-/Death Metal-Band aus Lüttich, die seit 2008 aktiv ist und bislang zwei Alben veröffentlicht hat, ohne sich jemals mit Demos oder EPs abgegeben zu haben. Drei der fünf Musiker haben schon in zahlreichen anderen Bands gespielt, die mir aber alle nicht geläufig sind... Schön schnell und thrashig geht es hier ab. Die Produktion ist dünn und eisig, verpasst dem Ganzen aber eine fiese Note, die gut ins Gesamtbild passt. Die schnellen, furiosen Gitarrenriffs sind immer melodisch und das Schlagzeug treibend nach vorne. Der Gesang pendelt immer zwischen Black- und Death Metal; mal heiser gekreischt, mal gibt es aber auch ein paar Growls. Auffällig gut ist die Gitarrenarbeit, denn neben den schneidenden Riffs kommt auch immer mal wieder die tolle, prägnante Leadgitarre zum Vorschein, die Zardens aus dem stets gleich klingenden Sumpf der Black-/Death Metal-Bands hervorhebt. Zardens legen eine furiose, kurzweilige Scheibe hin, die Death Metal-Bands aufgrund der Musikalität wohl eher ansprechen wird als die truen undergroundigen Schwarzheimer. Aber auch diesen sollten die Belgier zum Großteil gefallen.
http://www.crossfire-metal.de/11325-0-ZARDENS-BLACKNESS-UNFOLDS.html
Het uit België afkomstige Zardens kwam april dit jaar met het tweede album, Blackness Unfolds. Het album is uitgebracht onder het label Satanath Records, en co-uitgebracht door Death Portal Studio. Deze groep, voor sommigen van ons van eigen bodem en voor sommigen van de zuiderburen, speelt een mengelmoes van death- en blackmetal. De heren zijn actief sinds 2008, en brachten in 2012 het debuut Breeding the Dark. Voor ons ligt dus de opvolger van dat debuut.
De muziek van Zardens heeft een redelijk eigen geluid, hoewel het toch vertrouwd klinkt; soms pompende deathmetalriffs en dan weer snerpende tremoloriffs die ietwat Scandinavisch aandoen. De productie is af en toe wat rommelig, maar zeker niet onluisterbaar. Eigenlijk alle nummers zijn makkelijk te slikken, maar soms vallen de Belgen in herhaling, wat maakt dat niet alles op dit album even interessant en noemenswaardig is. Gelukkig zijn er maar een paar van deze fillers aanwezig op het album, en is het meeste gewoon catchy en goed. De vocalen van Pascal Moraux zijn rauwe blackmetalvocals, maar klinken af en toe zacht, maar versterkt.
Zardens zet een prima staaltje death- blackmetal neer, met een album dat niet overal weet te boeien, maar de uitschieters maken dit meer dan goed. De rauwe Scandinavische waas die over dit album heen hangt maakt dit ook eentje voor de doorgewinterde blackmetal liefhebbers, hoewel de toegankelijke en catchy riffs het ook voor nieuwelingen interessant maken. De beste nummers op dit album zijn in mijn opinie: het uptempo Reborn, het groovende Slave to the Moon dat een heerlijke doomy sfeer heeft en het melodische doch agressieve Among the Dead. Kortom, een lekker klinkend album dat makkelijk te slikken is, goed werk Zardens!
http://www.zwaremetalen.com/recensie/33143/Zardens-Blackness-Unfolds.html
Zardens nos llega directamente des de Liège, Belgica, terra ignota del Black Metal. Pese a la proximidad con Alemania y a disponer de todos los recursos necesarios para practicar dicho estilo (clima frío y húmedo, gris perpétuo, alcoholismo), los belgas no son proclives a practicarlo, quien sabrá porqué. En cualquier caso, lo que nos propone la segunda entrega de los relativamente nuevos Zardens es un Black/Death melódico y agresivo más afín a la escena sueca que a la más próxima geográficamente escena alemana.
“Blackness Unfolds” es un disco de cuarenta minutos escasos compuesto por diez temas muy bien trabajados y mejor producidos (en éste caso, hubiera preferido un sonido más cazallero y acorde a las producciones europeas de principios de los 90, pero otra vez, si tuviera que decidir yo del sonido de los grupos...) que permiten al oyente medio obtener su dosis periódica de tralla, de buena calidad y sin incursiones raras hacia otros estilos o desviaciones contra natura de músicos demasiado enfrascados en la masturbación de escalas y tempos como para desarrollar un producto con cuerpo y alma.
Ya de buenas a primeras podemos apreciar guiños a sus compatriotas Enthroned o Ancient Rites, pero el grueso de las composiciones descansa nítidamente sobre los fundamentos establecidos por bandas como Necrophobic o Dissection y se mantiene estable sobre esas estructuras a lo largo del trabajo. Las guitarras trabajan estupendamente a conjunto, con riffs de trémolo y palm mute acelerado sobre los cuales la Lead se va desarrollando de forma variada y agradable. A destacar la labor del batería, que provee toda la caña y dinámica sin quedarse quieto en un solo ritmo o patrón, aportando fluidez y variedad a los temas. En cuanto a la voz, el cantante suple la carencia de una voz única o memorable con unas líneas muy bien hechas y ocasionales coros que hacen que no quede como un añadido más en segundo plano.
Bien, después de este torrente de elogios, por qué Blackness Unfolds (Satanath Records,2015) no recibe una mejor nota, me preguntaréis? Pues simplemente porque Zardens falla ocasionalmente a la hora de crear una melodía memorable, pegadiza, enganchosa, o de proveer algún elemento único e irrepetible que haga que la banda y el disco giren non-stop durante días y semanas en el reproductor. Aún así, tengo fe en que el próximo trabajo será aún más personal y currado que este. Apuntan maneras y tienen potencial, quedáis avisados.
http://www.friedhof-magazine.com/criticas/zardens-blackness-unfolds
Zardens are a band from Belgium that plays a melodic mixture of black and death metal and this is a review of their 2015 album "Blackness Unfolds" which was released as a joint effort between Satanath Records and Death Portal Studio.
Clean guitar playing starts off the album and invokes a very dark atmosphere before adding in melodic guitar leads that start becoming a very huge part of the recording and spoken word parts can also be heard at times when the music starts getting heavier you can hear a lot of melodies and elements of thrash.
Vocals are mostly grim black metal screams and you can also hear a death metal influence in the music while the fast parts also use a great amount of blast beats and you can also hear all of the musical instruments that are present on the recording along with a few growls and the songs also bring in a great mixture of slow, mid paced and fast parts and the music goes back to the 80's styles of melodic Swedish black and death metal and clean playing also makes a return in certain sections of the recording and they close the album with an instrumental track.
Zardens plays a musical style that goes back to the more melodic sides of the 90's black and death metal genres and also add in a touch of thrash and some modern blackened death metal elements to create a style of their own, the production sounds very powerful while the lyrics cover obsession with death and the dark side of human nature.
In my opinion Zardens are a very great sounding melodic mixture of black and death metal and if you are a fan of those musical genres, you should check out this band. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "The Berserker" "Slave To The Moon" "Lifeblood" and "Among The Dead".
http://darkdoomgrinddeath.blogspot.ru/2015/11/zardensblackness-unfoldssatanath.html
Satanath Records nous envoie un nouveau guerrier de sa troupe avec le groupe belge Zardens. Les amateurs de black/thrash/death seront ravis par les ambiances proposées aux cours des dix titres de cet album bien martial.
On pensera aux australiens de Deströyer 666 dès « The Berserker » avec ces gros riffs bien thrash aux mélodies belliqueuses, ces rythmes martiaux et cette voix bien black/death. L’ambiance est au combat dans les variations bien épiques et ces riffs destructeurs.
L’écrasement de vos vertèbres se poursuit sur la très headbanguesque « Reborn ». Les passages varient entre blasts puissants, double pédale qui déroule, riffs bien assassins et sombres et voix bien haineuse. De bons breaks viennent poser un groove entraînant.
L’intro d’ « Afterlife » va plaire aux adorateurs de la scène black death mélodique des 90’s (Swordmaster, Dissection, Sacramentum…) avec ces notes très accrocheuses. Du bon gros solo efficace vient agrémenter la sauce qui prend bien !
Et l’album poursuit sur cette note toujours aussi entraînante. Chaque instrument a sa place et l’on saluera notamment l’excellent break de basse sur « Slave ToThe Moon ».
Le but du groupe est clairement de graver ses méfaits dans votre crâne tant les mélodies sont entêtantes
« Empty Skies » change sensiblement de ton, moins brut que ses prédécesseurs, plutôt mid tempo, presque sur le temps d’une valse diabolique qui revient ensuite sur une ambiance plus chevaleresque et agressive avec ces solis qui vous trouent la peau.
Une grosse nostalgie des 90’s vous prendra également sur « Lifeblood » et « Day Of Doom » avec là du bon vieux nectar tel qu’on nous le servait à l’époque. Les plus de 20/25 ans seront ravis et s’y briseront les cervicales.
L’intro d’ « Among The Dead » est démentielle et prépare le soldat avant la boucherie qui l’attend. C’est riche en variations toutes aussi prenantes les unes que les autres . La patate générale et ces soli en guise de scies circulaires découpent parfaitement le morceau et se font majestueusement plaisants à écouter.
« Sadness » termine et la mélancolie se dégage naturellement de ce morceau instrumental, de cet outro qui se pose tel un requiem pour ceux tombés au cours de ce combat.
Un second album accrocheur et agressif qu’apprécieront les nostalgiques de la scène black death mélodique des 90’s. Un savant mélange de puissance et de mélodie qui s’avère des plus efficaces.
http://www.magicfiremusic.net/2015/11/29/chronique-zardens-blackness-unfolds/
«… Они заблестели какой-то необычайной радостью. Эта радость не была маниакальной, она была дьявольской. Это был взгляд дьявола, надолго изгнанного из любимого ада и вдруг возвращенного туда».
Абрахам Грэйс Меррит. «Гори, ведьма, гори!».
В каталоге Satanath Records в 2015 году появилась интересная бельгийская команда ZARDENS, которая с 2008 года немилосердно терзает нервные системы соотечественников и тех, кто попадает на их концерты. Например, как они открывали Immolation в соответствующем турне »Summer Invasion Tour». Да еще много когда, ибо ZARDENS уверенно, жестко и сильно выступают на концертах, что в очередной раз было доказано на августовском сете с INQUISITION. Бельгийцы делают black death с такой мощью и, главное, вдохновением, что, кажется, побывали в кое-каких темных местах, где поднабрались явно нечеловеческих энергии и музыкальных понятий.
Надо отметить, что сабж — не первое явление черно-смертельного урагана от ZARDENS в этом мире. В ноль 12-ом году уже выходил полноформат группировки. А нынешняя драматическая констатация — это совместный релиз Satanath Records и американской конторы Death Portal Studio, что обретается в Колорадо, родине профильных жуков.
Лидер команды гитарист Warnacht в своем проекте решил связать в один стальной узел успехи олдового экстремального металла, ну и, естественно, придать этому железному артефакту кое-какие оригинальные черты, которые бы пришлись по душе фанатам старого звучания. Это так мощно упаковано в этом диске, что не пройдет и трех минут звучания (из более чем 41-ой — Total Time), как слушатель ZARDENS удостоверится в основательности такого взгляда.
Сначала кажется, что группа седлает блэк трэш, но потом приходит понятие, что это еще и блак дэт. При том музыканты технично разрабатывают тематику по всем направлениям, не давая никому усомниться в классности и опасности этого шторма. Темп этого невиданного беснования с самого старта взят очень высокий, и только чуть попозже приходит к смерчу средней силы (ненадолго), при всем при том ни на миг не снижая напряжения, не скидывая нимало газа, наоборот придавливая, где надо, ускоряясь и лавируя струнными соляками и ритмическими структурами.
Потом явственно замечаешь, как оскал этого животного превращается в черно-смертельный и оно начинает матереть и дышать чаще, навивая все более сложные «мелодические» структуры, как стальная проволока наматывается на барабан.
Точно. Надо заметить, что гитарные палачи ZARDENS увлеченно работают над созданием как кровожадной атмосферы, — путем скоростного, угрожающего риффинга, максимально агрессивно подавая песенную текстуру, так и временами расслабленно — демонтрируют небольшие промерзшие озерца «лирики». Небольшие, Карл! При всяком удобном случае струнная группа конструирует красивый мелодический проход, который никоим образом не претендует на преодоление забора блэк дэтового ареала.
Хотя, надо заметить, что в процессе проигрывания этого диска слышны линки на упомянутый трэш метал, спид метал, которые органично и очень продуктивно поданы в общей структуре музыки ZARDENS. Так что претензии на олд скул весьма основательны. И видимо это заслуги всего ансамбля музыкантов, что кроме явной мощи и наступательности в плоть компакта внедрена сильная мистическая струна, на которой так привольно будет устроиться всем воронам с обложки.
Вокалист Паскаль применяет средний и низкий харш, который в некоторых местах странным образом в конце музыкальной фразы выруливает почти на гроул. Перспективная заявка на оригинальность, кажется. Певец ZARDENS с массированной подачей иногда стремится эмоционально доминировать, и в этом также олдскульность этого диска (вместе с манерой вокальной отработки) — ибо инструментальщики категорически настаивают на своем, как и положено в металлическом произведении. В траке 10 на вокале на низах отработал Варнахт, впрочем, удачно скрыв свое мастерство под завесой трагического и драматического струнного звукоизвлечения.
Oggi ci spostiamo in Belgio per scoprire il secondo album degli Zardens, quintetto dedito a un black/death metal di chiara matrice svedese e, sorpresa, suona davvero bene, sembra di trovarsi davanti a un nuovo album dei defunti Dissection.
Questo Blackness Unfolds , edito per la prolifica Satanath records, potrebbe (perdonatemi il paragone) essere tranquillamente il proseguio di Storm of the light's bane, riff melodici e corposi conditi da tempi sostenuti e parecchi blast beat.
L'album si apre con una intro molto suggestiva e melodica per poi partire abbastanza a razzo con " The Berserker", song che ci inizia nel percorso e che con "Reborn" e "Afterlife" ci porta indietro un po' nel tempo. Sia chiaro che questi Zardens non sono un clone dei Dissection ma solo una band che ne trae una vera ispirazione e a mio parere ben riuscita .Riescono anche a essere originali come in "Slave to the moon" (dove il basso e' molto presente e segue delle ritmiche ricche che creano parecchio pathos )e in "Empty sky". Le seguenti "Lifeblood" e "Day of doom" forse sono un gradino piu' in basso delle altre ma sempre di ottimo livello con qualche leggera sbavatura nella parte strumentale udibile solo da un'orecchio attento. La lunga "Among the dead" ci riporta in alto sfornandoci tutto quello che una canzone puo' contenere, riff thrash, rallentamenti, assoli, blast e parti di doppia cassa, sembrerebbe , detta cosi', buttato tutto a caso e invece sono sapientemente ordinati e organizzati, purtroppo la parte di batteria della strofa e' identica a una canzone molto conosciuta dei Cradle of filth, ma lo si dimentica subito nel proseguire della song. Si chiude con "Sadness" che conclude l'album con un po' di epicita' , pezzo strumentale ben ricamato dai riff di chitarra e di basso.
Riassumendo, "Blackness Unfolds " e' un album che va ascoltato piu' di una volta, va assaporato per bene per scoprire appieno le sue potenzialita' e perche' no, anche per farsi un bel viaggietto indietro di una quindicina di anni. Ottimi musicisti, ben suonato e ben registrato e gli strumenti si distinguono uno a uno. Vedremo in futuro se questi belgi sapran ripetersi, in fondo e' solo il loro secondo album e la carriera se gestita bene puo' esser lunga.
Se non lo si fosse capito, oggi ho scoperto una band che mi piace parecchio, ne consiglio l'acquisto a tutti gli amanti del death/black metal europeo.
http://heavymetalmaniaczine.blogspot.it/2016/01/zardens-blackness-unfolds_4.html
Belçika'lı Zardens'in ikinci albümü 'Blackness Unfolds' Satanath Records etiketiyle piyasaya çıktı. Grup thrash/black metal kalıplarına uyabilecek bestelere ve enerjiye sahipler,yer yer ise 2000ler başı melodik black metal soundunada göz kırpıyor.
Bestelerde ritmik rifler çok fazla,vokal biraz tek düze gidiyor çok fazla değişik renk katmamış,davul tonları bana bilgisayar gibi geldi.Enerjik parçaları bulunuyor fakat bana çok fazla heyecan vermedi. Albümün sonlarına doğru Dissection ve Dark Funeral arası bir sounda yakın bazı parçalarda var.'Lifeblood ve 'Day of Doom' parçaları albüm standartının biraz daha üzerinde olarak yorumlanabilir. Açıkcası objektif olarak yaklaşmaya çalıştım,2000ler black metalini seviyorsanız tavsiye ederim.
http://www.extreminal.com/extreminal/kritik.asp?id=1375
Zardens are a band from Belgium that plays a melodic mixture of black and death metal and this is a review of their 2015 album "Blackness Unfolds" which was released as a joint effort between Satanath Records and Death Portal Studio.
Clean guitar playing starts off the album and invokes a very dark atmosphere before adding in melodic guitar leads that start becoming a very huge part of the recording and spoken word parts can also be heard at times when the music starts getting heavier you can hear a lot of melodies and elements of thrash.
Vocals are mostly grim black metal screams and you can also hear a death metal influence in the music while the fast parts also use a great amount of blast beats and you can also hear all of the musical instruments that are present on the recording along with a few growls and the songs also bring in a great mixture of slow, mid paced and fast parts and the music goes back to the 80's styles of melodic Swedish black and death metal and clean playing also makes a return in certain sections of the recording and they close the album with an instrumental track.
Zardens plays a musical style that goes back to the more melodic sides of the 90's black and death metal genres and also add in a touch of thrash and some modern blackened death metal elements to create a style of their own, the production sounds very powerful while the lyrics cover obsession with death and the dark side of human nature.
In my opinion Zardens are a very great sounding melodic mixture of black and death metal and if you are a fan of those musical genres, you should check out this band. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "The Berserker" "Slave To The Moon" "Lifeblood" and "Among The Dead".
http://darkdoomgrinddeath.blogspot.ru/search?q=zardens
Belgian quintet ZARDENS returns with their sophomore album “Blackness Unfolds”, and it is no less than a pure lesson in violence. As the famous Belgian proverb says, “a single spot stains the whole dress”, so here are 10 straight forward Black Metal songs with an extra Thrash and Death Metal touch delivered spotlessly tight!!! It’s a very comprehensive album, with mostly Thrash beat and blast beat drum variations, sharp guitar on both riffs and solos, and also some almost slumbering bass lines sustaining them. But they also managed to interweave some slow tempo passages, which in my opinion suited them really well since they are placed in moments that either create a darker atmosphere or break the constant head-banging frenzy the fast riffs provoke. The vocals are particularly moderate in comparison to the rest of the band, not filling in every riff and working on the same level as the rest of the band. This is usually quite difficult for bands with singers that are not playing instruments while singing, and I have seen many bands with similar line-ups failing at creating such atmosphere as ZARDENS did especially because of the overuse of vocals. “Blackness Unfolds” is, however, nothing new to any Black / Death Metal avid listener. Anyone who has spent some time listening to this album will easily find similarities with many Scandinavian bands, but that are particularly played with a higher enthusiasm, velocity, and somehow, a thrashier approach by the Belgians, giving it a certain character. It is an album that has the necessary personal touch that I find to be likable in a music style that is so vast but at the time so strict to its basic foundations. Moreover, it also gives you the impression this is a band worth checking live, for if they are as good on stage as they sound in their album, they certainly will unfold the blackness out of you.
http://www.voicesfromthedarkside.de/Albums-EPs-Demos/Z/ZARDENS--10368.html
Segundo álbum de esta banda belga que ya había debutado con “Breeding the dark”, en el 2012. La placa incursiona dentro del black/death metal, matizado con muy buenos riffs y melodías, con bastantes similitudes con Nile y Behemoth en las estructuras de las canciones, mientras que a lo largo del disco se percibe también un cierto espíritu al thrash alemán de principios de los 80’s.
El quinteto se desenvuelve sin fisuras en todos los temas, sonando ajustados y seguros de lo que están haciendo, con la suficiente versatilidad como para tomar lo mejor del viejo black/death de los años 90’s y adaptarlo a nuestros tiempos. Interesante disco que recomiendo chequear.
http://rockarollazine.blogspot.ru/2016/04/zardens-blackness-unfolds-2015-satanath.html
Posádka ZARDENS se v metalovém pekle vylíhla černé šelmě někdy kolem roku 2008. V roce 2012 pak Belgičané přivedli na svět prvního malého Satana („Breeding the Dark“) a za tři roky hned dalšího, řekněme ještě mnohem čipernějšího. „Blackness Unfolds“ pulsuje a tepe způsobem naprosto radikálním. „Nesvaté věci“ jsou fajn, ovšem tento způsob boje, zdá se mi až krutě konzervativní. CD mohu s čistým svědomím „znesvětit“ hláškou o ryzím thrash/black metalu, o jehož blasphemický feeling se stará tradičně mrazivý kytarový zvuk. Jednotlivým skladbám ale čertužel chybí jakákoliv vynalézavost. Na albu jsem nenašel track, který by mě vysloveně zaujal, nemluvě o nějakém zvláštním překvapení či pointě.
ZARDENS jsou jednoduše předvídatelní. Oťukáte si je při první skladbě, aby jste následně dostali tajenku bez vyplňování ostatních polí křížovky. Přesný a ničím nevybočující šicí stroj si neklade za cíl revolučním způsobem tokat, jako spíše libovat si v zajetých žánrových vaničkách.Zardens Bez zrady vůči sobě, bez zrady vůči posluchačům. Desítka skladeb působí jako šedivý průvan. Žádné moc velké vymýšlení, pouze tonáž riffů a blackového rouhání. „Blackness Unfolds“ mi přijde je takový zvláštní retro snímek, film pro pamětníky, jež chvíli potěší, ale obecně nikterak zázračně nezaujme. Vlastně se dá i říci, že ZARDENS si velmi snadno spletete s desítkami jiných kapel, což je jeden z dalších zásadních hendikepů, které zde spatřuji.
Kapela tak jen těžko může oslovit širší spektrum posluchačů, neboť ti ji v podstatě mohou kdykoli zaměnit za +/- lepší či horší alternativu. Nicméně na albu najdete hned desítku skladeb, ze které výrazněji vystupuje symbolicky zpracovaná klipovka „The Berseker“ . V té je vlastně ukryta tvorba ZARDENS v kostce. Když si video pod recenzí pustíte, určitě si uděláte dost dobrý obrázek o tom, kterak asi vypadá zbytek alba. Jediným atypickým prvkem kompletu je tak nevšední obal, který s povahou hudby prakticky nekoresponduje. Ale proti gustu…r
„Blackness Unfolds“ je dílo vesměs solidní, ovšem nikterak vymykající se normálu. Pokud ke kapele nemáte nikterak osobní vztah, jen těžko ji zachováte věrnost a přízeň. Domnívám se, že podobně na tom budou i konzervativnější posluchači metalu, kteří s největší pravděpodobností upřednostní osvědčená jména scény. Za seznámení se ZARDENS však rozhodně nic nedáte. V mých očích se však jedná o ryzí průměr, a to s nikterak výrazným potenciálem.
http://rumzine.com/zardens-blackness-unfolds-cd-2015-satanath-records
A belga Zardens neve eddig számomra nem sokat mondott, de valahogy már az első dal közben éreztem, hogy ha valami nagy gyalázat nem történik, akkor mint a jó szocialista mesében, utánajárok a bandának! Nos a belga blekkendekkerek 2008-ban kezdtek neki a nehézfém módszeres megmunkálásának, az addigra már menetbe tört Moribund és Delirium szilánk halmain. Az ismerős tagság aztán négy évet készült a Breeding The Dark debütre, ami bár igazán jó album, azért még sok gyermekbetegséggel is rendelkezett. Kicsit kiforratlan volt. Ezek után a főmérnök Warnacht szélnek eresztette a teljes műszakot és új szakemberekkel töltötte fel 2014-ben a kicsiny műhelyét. Egy év elteltével, azaz idén ki is álltak a megreformált nehézfém öntvényükkel, ami a Blackness Unfolds pecsétet kapta meg.
A kettes lemezen alapvetően nem változott a blackes megoldásokkal fűszerezett death vonal, csak kicsit minden téren finomodott az összkép. Hogy e mögött a beérés mögött mennyiben áll a friss tagság, vagy éppen az első lemez gyermekbetegségei mögött mennyire állt a szélnek eresztett bagázs, az nem tudható bizonyosan. Az viszont fix, hogy az egyébként egyáltalán nem rossz elsőlemezes összkép tovább finomodott és kristályosodott. A srácok a Blackness Unfolds-on azt a fajta bombasztikus blackened death vonalat tolják falig, aminek hangulataiban ugyan úgy megtalálható a Dissection, mint a Necrophobic, a Naglfar vagy éppenséggel a Dissection behatások okán felhánytorgatható Thulcandra is. Elsöprő tempó, rifforientált megfogalmazás és fényesre polírozott bitang hangzás várja azt, aki befizet a srácok által kínált utazásra. A hangulatokba az említett nagy mestereken kívül sikerült beszorítani a kései Aeternus-re jellemző misztikumot is, ami kimondottan emeli az összhatás értékét. Mindezek mellé a polírozott megszólalás ellenére is tagadhatatlanul bekúszik a szigorúan elsőlemezes Tribulation kriptabűze is, aminek oka elsősorban Morholt temetői élőholt énekhangjában kereshető. A debütlemez blackesebb éle most sokkal inkább átfordult a death metal irányába, ami a rifforientáltabb gitártémákon és a blastot kevésbé preferáló dobon érhető tetten leginkább. Ja, igen! Kevin Facella dobjátéka bizony az a pont, ahol határozott a technikai előrelépés a kitett Oliwarhoz kiépest. Ez az előrelépés is a technikásabb death felé billenti a mérleget, amibe a black megoldások már csak fűszerként jelennek meg. Egy olyan éjfekete hangulati adalékként, ami egy masszívan sötét aurába burkolja a teljes lemezt, dohogjon közép-lassú, vagy száguldjon magas tempón.
Azt hiszem, hogy igazán jó banda lehet a Zardens, ha ezen a vonalon maradnak. Top lemez lett ez a második nekifutás, ami mögött top produkciós háttérmunka áll. Már csak egy erős management kell a srácok mögé, hogy rövid idő alatt az élvonalba repítse őket. Ha ez elmarad, nos akkor az a legrombolóbb hatás ami egy ilyen technikai és dalszerzői vénával rendelkező csapatot érhet. Érdemes lecsapni rájuk és szerintem lehet figyelni a jövő évi turné és fesztivállistákon a nevet, hátha felbukkan valamerre!
http://www.femforgacs.hu/kritika/3420/Zardens_Blackness_Unfolds_2015
Formé à Liège en 2008 autour des vétérans Pascal Moraux (chant) et Fabrice Maggio (guitare) le combo belge n’est pas le plus connu de son pays malgré une scène black/death qui ne cesse de revenir en force à l’instar notamment de POSSESSION. Il faut dire que les événements n’ont pas été en leur faveur car après un premier opus passé totalement inaperçu son successeur a bien failli ne pas sortir du tout puisque ce dernier était en boîte depuis 2013 mais n’a pu être exhumé que l’an dernier suite à un contrat signé conjointement avec les russes de Sathanath Records et les américains de Death Portal Studios. Si les raisons de ce long silence restent mystérieuses elles ont eu par contre un impact sur la stabilité du groupe puisqu’à l’heure actuelle il a été totalement renouvelé pour ne conserver que son gratteux, qui s’est entouré par la force des choses de nouveaux membres.
Ce qui marque dès qu’on écoute l’intro c’est l’influence massive de DISSECTION, en effet les notes de guitare sont directement inspirées de « Where Dead Angels Lie », tout comme « Sadness » qui peut faire office d’Outro et qui reprend la même recette que Jon Nödtveidt et sa bande avec son ambiance froide, mélancolique et mélodique. On retrouvera durant le reste du disque à quelques moments ces mêmes ambiances mais celles-ci seront presque effacées par un côté Black plus affirmé, mais aussi plus classique et linéaire car l’ensemble va du bon au très moyen. Dans cette première catégorie « Reborn » tient le haut du panier car il se montre direct, remuant et inspiré en alternant parties rapides, double puissante et passages plus mid-tempo, tout comme « Afterlife » à la grande variété de rythme et « Among The Dead » où là aussi l’ensemble sait se diversifier tout en gardant une construction très classique. Mais si ces compos tiennent la route en revanche le reste sera plus mitigé notamment « The Berserker » et « Slave To The Moon » qui souffrent toutes les deux d’une durée excessive ce qui provoque rapidement une certaine répétition des idées car leur construction est en elle-même relativement simple ce qui ne fait qu’accentuer cette sensation, on s’en aperçoit aussi avec « Lifeblood » qui malgré ses trois minutes souffre du même défaut mais de manière moins marquée.
En plus il faut également bien avouer que tout cela n’est pas forcément mis en avant par la production et le mixage dont se sont chargés le binôme fondateur car si le son est vraiment naturel et sonne quasiment comme du live, la batterie en revanche est vite fatigante à cause d’une caisse claire bien trop sèche et d’une charley mise trop en avant, ce qui finit par noyer l’ensemble des instruments quand le marteleur s’excite de manière plus importante. Cependant il faut saluer le fait que la basse est vraiment audible et chaude, apportant une densité et de la profondeur sur les bons moments de l’album qui en recèlent quand même plusieurs.
Du coup sans être un chef d’œuvre ni un ratage total on se retrouve avec un disque qui n’amènera rien de plus dans la pléaïde de sorties underground puisque celui-ci est finalement banal et moyen, et surtout on a l’impression d’avoir entendu les mêmes riffs, parties de batterie et breaks des milliers de fois auparavant mais surtout de meilleure qualité, car l’ensemble est vraiment trop classique et tourne un peu trop en rond pour espérer mieux.
http://www.vs-webzine.com/chronique-ZARDENS-Blackness_Unfolds-17128.html
Как ни крути в руках симпатичный джевел-бокс, а обложка сего опуса всё равно кажется мне жутчайше неуместной. Стая птиц на белом фоне не предвещает ничего хорошего, поэтому включив второй полноформатник бельгийцев Zardens, я ожидал услышать то, что цензурно можно описать как «симфо-готик-хрень». К счастью, моим ожиданиям было не суждено исполниться.
После весьма симпатичного и, на удивление, не раздражающего аутро, на уши слушателя обрушивается настоящий металлический шторм. Играют Zardens ядовитый сплав дэта и трэша со щепоткой блэк-метала. Звучит всё это, несмотря на хороший звук, весьма олдскульно и заставляет вспомнить подземное и не только Зло из подвалов 80ых. Собственно, список вдохновителей бельгийцев это наглядно иллюстрирует: Morbid Angel, Dissection, Necrophobic, Immolation, Unanimated, Possessed, Slayer, Metallica, Marduk, Emperor, Mayhem, Summoning, Arcturus, Bathory, Satyricon. Ну как у таких людей может получиться плохой альбом?
Собственно, несмотря на блэк-метал группы среди влияний, блэк-металу в музыке Zardens уделено не слишком много внимания. Безусловно, иногда чёрный метал берёт верх, как в мистической «Slave to the Moon», но в целом на протяжении альбома царит всё же дэс-трэш, который у меня упорно вызывает ассоциации с Possessed. Думаю, что тот же титульный «The Berserker» ладно вписался бы в творчество калифорнийских «одержимых».
Во время прослушивания мне стало интересно узнать о группе больше и, после недолгого поиска, выяснилось, что костяк группы уже больше двадцати лет занимается мракобесием на бельгийской андеграундной сцене. С одной стороны, это объясняет качество релиза, с другой – даёт повод порадоваться тому, что и у музыкантов «под 40» хватает задора и злобы.
Я не так часто даю советы слушателю, однако в случае с Zardens настоятельно рекомендую найти CD, благо стоит он сущие копейки.
http://metalheads.by/en/review/zardens-blackness-unfolds.html