When thinking of New Jersey, Black Metal isn’t a genre which comes to mind. However, Void Wanderer Productions and War Productions managed to even find quality Melodic Black Metal in this part of the world.
“The Chosen Path” is the third offering of this three piece outfit form the United States of the Antichrist. However, it is their debut full length, and this album is highly enjoyable I can assure you.
As the cover of this album reflects excellently: their music is best degusted ice and ice cold. On this album you can find two instrumental songs and six full length songs.
After quite a lengthy, jet intriguing and atmospheric, intro “Winds of Eldritch North” blasts out of my speakers covering my living chamber into a frostbitten wasteland. It immediately grabs me by the throath with its cold, melodic riffs. The vocals of Wretch are mixed quite loud in the mix. Yet they are quite diverse so it does not hinder. Although their music is quite melodic the music still packs a punch with quite some ferocity. The riffs are divers, and laced with quite some melody, and yet being brutal, are catchy as snowball fight with spikes. It sometimes remind me of the frost gods of Immortal which surely can’t be a bad thing.
“Spectres of Glacier Tombs” is an adventurous song with great rhythms and hooks, and don’t forget a well executed dose of melody. ”Call of Valkyries” takes no prisoners with its direct approach. The screams, or should I say croaks?, of Wretch fit perfectly in the well crafted composition. With its three and a half minute it is over before you know it and I find myself hitting the repeat button. “Riders of the Winter Sky” again reminds me a bit of Immortal. But let me assure you: Henere manages to keep its own identity.
With “Heart of the Maelstrom” a spooky organ gives a short interlude before the frost giants punch you in the face with a chilling, thrilling and dizzling doze of excellent riffs and melody. It sounds and feels like the chants present on this song are being driven like the icy northern wind. Great song!
“Frost Wolf’s Howl” is a ferocious yet epic song. It feels that you are being chased by a pack of wolves and has a sense of urgency. After that we are being treated upon the unsettling outtro “Oath of the Chosen” and this frostbitten hailstorm is over.
“The Chosen Path” is a well accomplished album. It has no fillers just great songs which are highly enjoyable. If I must give a remark it is that this album is relatively short. But to be honest: that’s what makes this album so enjoyable. Clocking barely over thirty minutes this album is over before you know it. Yet, I find myself listening this album a few times a day. Both labels have a nose for quality music and the latest spawn of Henere is no exception.
The production is solid, with clear bass (which I really enjoy) and the relative short songs are really fun to listen to. So dear reader, give this album a go. It certainly won’t disappoint. Good stuff!
Score: 8,2 / 10
Released by: Void Wonderer Productions / War Productions
Release date: 19th of September
Reviewer: Erik
Tracklist:
- Incantations Of Ice And Steel
- Winds Of Eldritch North
- Spectres Of Glacier Tombs
- Call Of Valkyries
- Riders Of The Winter Sky
- Heart Of The Maelstorm
- Frost Wolf’s Howl
- Oath Of The Chosen
