Avsky

Without sounding as though they're ripping off anyone directly, Sweden's Avsky engage the listener in a convincing variation of, or homage to, the cold, unpolished black metal of yesteryear. Chilling, echoed screams rise amidst the low-end buzz of the guitar and raw, organic-sounding drums. While there is many a foray into faster territories, the bulk of the record is mid-tempo, and with five of the six tunes being over seven minutes in duration, it feels very drawn-out. Because of the pace and lengthy pieces, Scorn, while a good album for its genre ― some might say great ― it is not, unfortunately, very exciting or memorable. Although it definitely improves after a few listens, it lacks the power to astonish, get stuck in the listener's head or induce goose bumps more than a couple of times. The shining moments are often dulled by the sheer weight of the album.