This is the debut album from Taubrą, a Swiss/Norwegian black metal band.
Featuring members of Aara, Forgotten Tomb, Modern Rites, Porta Nigra, and Thron, Therizo contains 41 minutes of old-school black metal. Think of a combination of influences from acts such as Mayhem, Immortal, Behexen, Tsjuder, Marduk, and Gorgoroth, and you’ll be on the right lines.
Envisioned as a hymnal to the classic blackened style and era, Therizo is a synthesis of 90s elements, delivered with a modern touch. Blending Scandinavian second wave with atmospheric vigour and cold aggression, Therizo is a like a splash of icy water to the face, followed up by a kick to the head.
Taubrą play their music with speed and brutality, but these songs contain more than just violent tendencies. There’s a grimly macabre atmosphere present that layers the music like a cloak of occult darkness. This esoteric mysticism shrouds the band’s music, elevating their freezing hostility to heights unavailable to acts that concentrate on aggression alone. Therizo offers a masterclass of frosted black metal, riven with dark streaks of melody, smothered by menacing mood, and driven by harsh potency. Also, there are some damn fine riffs on here too.
Therizo is an easily enjoyable and satisfying record to explore. It’s for fans of classic black metal, and Taubrą play the style with an innate expertise and contemporary fury. My only complaint, (as usual), are the pointless intro and outro tracks, but at least they’re short. Other than that, Therizo delivers a thoroughly compelling vision of black metal for the listener to become absorbed by.
Very highly recommended.
Wonderbox Metal 