Striborg
Ghostwoodlands ()
Wydane przez Displeased RecordsRok wydania Kraj AustraliaNapisał Wouter6
The first of two discs released in 2007 by prolific Australian one-man black metal project Striborg. Immediately noticeable is the improvement in the production department. The string instruments lie prominent in the mix and the bass guitar is audible to a certain extent. Keyboards are used to utmost effect and provide the record with an almost ambient otherworldly feel. The focus is definitely on the ambient part of the equation with "Ghostwoodlands" as it features four instrumental tracks. There are bits and parts which contain morose melodies, offering some variation to the band's relentless assault. There are only three black metal tracks on this album, which might put off fans of the Striborg's more black metal oriented records of the past. "Ghostwoodlands" is definitely more experimental and even accessible considering the narrow niche in which Striborg operates. Still the band's major flaws remain considerable given his extended output. A lot of tracks feel uneven and disjointed; the ambient tracks are often lengthy and tend to drag a bit in the long run. The production is a little bit better in comparison to the past albums, but it's still nothing to write home about. Striborg would benefit incredibly from a good studio environment and some trimming in his material. Still those looking for a desolate, hallucinatory and harrowing black metal record will find their fill with "Ghostwoodlands" and in the majority of Striborg's extensive catalogue. This is definitely not for the squeamish or the faint of heart.
www.displeasedrecords.com
