BALFOR - Black Serpent Rising - [2017] - Album - Review by NPH - Rate 10/10

BALFOR
COUNTRY: UKRAINE
GENRE: BARBARIC BLACK METAL

BALFOR - "BLACK SERPENT RISING" - CD - 2017

ALBUM TRACKLIST:
01. Serpents Of The Black Sun
02. Dawn Of Savage
03. Unbounded Wrath Of Venom
04. Heralds Of The Fall
05. Among The Fallen Ones
06. Wolfbreed
07. A Vulture’s Spell
08. Crimson Stronghold


RECORDING LINEUP:
Thorgeir - vocals, guitars
Athamas - bass, vocals
Khaoth - drums, percussion
Astaroth Merc - guitars

BALFOR - “Black Serpent Rising” - Album - 2017 - Label: Drakkar Productions
Genre: Barbaric Black Metal
 
"(...) In the absence of deities, only warriors and corpses remain
Our legion is the dead, it’s the dying…
The sun may bleed black, but we belong in the depths of night
We are drenched in moonlit skies; drowned in oceans, slaughtered by serpents (...)" BALFOR - "Serpents of the Black Sun"

THE BAND:
The Barbarians are Rising! Brave warriors who crushed legions of dominating empires of mankind! Savage by spirit and free by will the Barbarian hordes shall crush and conquer all those who oppose them!
I welcome you to the world of Balfor who have just created another historical chapter in their ascending career; the new creation is entitled "Black Serpent Rising".
Balfor raise their swords from the ancient lands of Ukraine and play a style that can be defined as barbaric black metal, a title that can only in part explain their darkly dramatic musical creations! Balfor sound is epic, melodic and blasting fast, a truly outstanding blend of dark extreme metal!
The band comes from Kyiv and features members from Khors, Raventale and ex.-Hate Forest.
"Black Serpent Rising" is already the bands third album and without a doubt their best and most mature release to the date!

THE NEW ALBUM:
"Black Serpent Rising" takes you back in time and interprets the dark, barbaric past of human kind! Ages of Empires expansion and their consuming cultural slavery, times of brave Barbarian hordes that refused to see their freedom denied by any oppressing force!
Balfor epic savage hymns and dark ritualistic sound really takes you back to those times... straight into the battle fields, fulfilling your fate in death or victorious glory!
"Black Serpent Rising" is such a cult release that in my opinion sets a mark on black metal halls of fame! A ritualistic barbaric black metal piece of art that deserves it's place among other titanic releases of the genre! A black diamond that should ignite again the inner black metal fame on those into Emperor, Immortal, Satyricon, Bathory, Rotting Christ golden eras! A must-have release for all those who seek for such a spirit of ancient glory on any newer band... if you are one of those, then I am sure you will find what you seek it on "Black Serpent Rising" by Balfor!

THE BANDMEMBERS AND ALBUM DETAILS:
Such an impressive and addicting conceptual piece of art can only created by top quality musicians of extreme talent! Lead by the genial creative mind of the only founding member Anton Thorgeir Prymak the band has pushed their limits and has build a barbaric / ritualistic black metal beast of epic proportions! Each and every detail is a delight to the listeners... the savage dynamic drums of Khaoth, the pounding bass and backing vocals by Athamas, the melodic yet ferocious guitars by Thorgeir and Astaroth, the thunderous battle chants, the ritualistic female vocals, the bright use of folk elements and keys, the clean epic vocals combined with savage vociferations of Thorgeir as well as the highly detailed structure of each song will surely take you right into the blood soaked battle fields of ancient times!
“Black Serpent Rising” piece was recorded at More Music Studio in Kyiv, Ukraine. Mixed and mastered at Blacklight Studio by Shaddar (Khors, Ulvegr, etc.).
Another astonishing detail on this album is the brilliant cover art done by Nugeslag, the mastermind behind the cover artworks on the latest Rotting Christ albums! Simply outstanding and epic as Hell, capturing the whole visual album concept perfectly!

ALBUM TRACKS:
The new album keeps on surprising you track after track from the opening ones "Serpents Of The Black Sun" to the final "Crimson Stronghold", here you have 8 powerful tracks of the most epic and ritualistic black metal you have heard in years! True battle hymns one after the other, making a hard task to pick up your own favourite tracks, this since the whole album has so much to offer in all it's essence! "Unbounded Wrath Of Venom" is probably my own favourite track but could be any other since the whole piece is so addictive and ear-catching! 

CONCLUSION:
From time to time a cult metal album of excellence emerges and should be carved on the almighty golden halls of Valhalla for all the eternity of times, "Black Serpent Rising" is such kind of memorable album, a black diamond of might and glory! Without any doubts this will be one of the best 2017 albums of the genre!
Beware... this album grows on each listening, causes addiction and keeps you captive to each song detail! Balfor have condensed all the best elements of black metal and created a dark ritualistic piece of barbaric art!

RüPä - NeKronos Promotion HELL


RATE: 10/10



"Serpents Of The Black Sun" - Videoclip:
https://youtu.be/NPphT2skiws



"Crimson Stronghold" - Lyric Video:
https://youtu.be/1xUrzU6Ul0Q



"Black Serpent Rising" - Album Track-By-Track:
https://youtu.be/w00V1mkzZu0




MORE ABOUT THE BAND AT THIS LINKS:
OFFICIAL SITE: HTTP://WWW.BALFOR.INFO 
FACEBOOK PROFILE: HTTP://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/BALFOROFFICIAL 
YOUTUBE CHANNEL: HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/BALFORHORDE 
BANDCAMP: HTTP://BALFOR.BANDCAMP.COM
SOUNDCLOUD: HTTP://WWW.SOUNDCLOUD.COM/BALFOR

BOOKING / CONTACT: BALFORHORDE@GMAIL.COM