Hardegon – Vale das Chamas
How long has it been since a really good Black Metal release from Brazil? Unforetelling Philosophism by Regnum Umbra Ignis was the last that I’m aware of. That was 2005! This was released in 2008. Anyway, thanks to a timely request sent to the Hell Furnace labs for analysis we have one. With the disturbing snap of inspection gloves ringing in my ears I fired up the furnace for Hardegon.
This is their second demo entitled ‘Vale das Chamas’ upon which they manage to incorporate a hugely varied range of styles under one without sacrificing anything in the way of integrity. The listener can hear a myriad of riffs that’ll remind them of different bands without even coming close to thinking of the band as a clone.
Far from it, the four tracks are all individual and feature a really well worked association of hard anger, tuneful but aggressive instrumentation and dark emotional melody. Nothing is forced here and the whole twenty five minutes flow from start to finish without hindrance, even though the final track sounds like it is from an older release. Using their native Portuguese tongue enhances the credibility also.
‘Queime’ begins slowly but soon livens up as a fast serious riff is dissected by a catchy high pitched one and the rasping vocals pour themselves over the music. Amazingly this song switches, in the middle section, to what I think sounds like a musical fight between Taake and Iron Maiden. This is some of the most impressively arranged Black Metal I have heard so far this year.
‘Quorsum Haec Tam Putida Tendunt?’ offers a more measured approach and concentrates on morbidity as it chugs bleakly away until the last ninety seconds when it accelerates. Ending with some more good solid raw ranting from the vocalist. ‘Tambores de Guerra’ follows in the same vein but is probably more atmospherically charged than its predecessors as it has some really great riffing and quality drumming.
The cover art is worthy of mention too and looks like a brutal version of a Cathedral album. The intelligence of the music and structure keeps it interesting and imbued with a substantial amount of re-playability. Overall this is a brilliant demo and well worth getting hold of.
I only recently discovered Rahu, who purvey original and very replayable Finish Black Metal of the highest calibre. This is a demo from 2008 that has since been released as part of a best of featuring this and their other demo on one CD.
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