Category: Audio Published on Thursday, 26 February 2009 00:00 Written by Graham Mills Hits: 99
10 First of all, I cannot believe no one has reviewed this album yet. It is a very important one in all the Immortal discography. So for those BM fans who have not listened to it yet, here are my thoughts on it. This is a true classic album from Immortal, the one that made them great, and none of the following albums could ever match the power and atmosphere from Pure Holocaust. The production is clear enough to enjoy all the instruments, but without sounding too thin or clean. Particularly I love the sound from the double bass drumms, which in some songs like "Eternity Opens" give a special atmosphere when they stop and suddenly sound again. The guitar riffs vary from very chaotic bursts to melodic interludes, some fans may think this style is a trademark from Emperor, but Immortal don´t use synths to support the melody like Emperor did (I like Emperor). In this album there are no empty spaces of sound, everything is filled by any of the instruments, mainly the guitars. The vocals are ok, if you have listened to Immortal you know how they sound, they are not the high pitched screams common in Black Metal, but a kind a middle pitched grunt-scream. Vocals don't follow the overall melody at some moments, they have their own space, put in front of all the mix, they don't cover the music though. The overall speed never slows down, it keeps you always aware that you are listening to this, I mean, you never get bored, you can listen to the whole album without skipping songs or "looking for that rocking riff". The feeling in this album is great, is in someway violent and contemplative at the same time, full of anger and hatred, man, this is BLACK METAL AT ITS BEST. Pure Holocaust has lasting effect, you will pick up this album again and again after having listened to it. All the songs are very well done, even when each of them is different from the others they keep their connection, rather than being just a collection of tracks without a link that can be heard in no particular order. All the songs are amazing, but the tracks "Storming through red clouds and holocaustwinds", "Eternity Opens" and "Pure Holocaust" are heads above, the last being maybe the best Immortal song ever. Needless to say, this album is a must have, the cd cover is ugly, like in all Immortal albums, and the lyrics speak about darkness, death, winter, war, etc. Pure Holocaust deserves the highest recommendations, no Black Metal fan will be dissapointed!!!!!