Review Detail

Through a trance-inducing presentation of repetition, Transilvanian Hunger flows in hypnotic courses. In this form of minimalist structure, the music pulses through obscure melody and unyielding rhythm in an orbit of continuous motion. The orchestration here is deceptively simple, as within the borders of structure there exists delirious complexities hidden underneath the wall of sound, which reaches extreme depths of the "necro" recording values that was one of the identifiable characteristics that this style of music was founded upon. There is essentially no bass here, as guitars stream in a sea of treble and drums are bashed in repetitive violence, showcasing an unparalleled stamina of duration. The vocals are scathing shrills of torment that hang above the music, existing in a dimension of their own, yet vital to the musical proceedings. What results is one of black metal’s most essential and significant recordings, as this work perfectly illustrates, in each aspect of its entirety, the intention of this particular musical movement, and how its mastered in the full spectrum of presentation.

In the pursuit of the ultimate expression of the Cold and the Grim, DarkThrone strive for and achieve their imagined ugliest form of presentation, in sonic and visual form. The music attacks in confrontation with worlds of light and within its own realm of haunted night, conflicted with bitter indifference and misanthropic desire. In this, DarkThrone have constructed the ultimate satanic rejection of life in the world of the living, and now find themselves standing at the threshold of the black forest of isolation, torch in hand with a glance towards a holy establishment. In the moment of truth of themselves, the worth of actions are weighed in light of their ultimate accomplishment, yet passion such as this wants to be ignorant of reason, and flames will still burn. This portrayal is beautifully orchestrated, though they would never want to admit such.

"Feel the Call Freeze you with the Uppermost Desire
Transilvanian Hunger, my Mountain is Cold"

Transilvanian Hunger marks the peak of DarkThrone’s, and perhaps the entire black metal genre’s, intensity, passion and concept of expression. This is the work which seems to have become the most influential from their discography, yet this demonstration, in feel, composition and conceptual purpose, will never be equaled. It is a product of a moment in time of an exceptional movement, something that is impossible to formulate outside of its limits, which are now lost in dying embers.