This review is brought to you via Internet translation tools, headache tablets and a severe amount of patience. Folteraar have sat on our reviews list for a while and when this happens choosing to download and cover it is a bit like playing Russian roulette. On the first play it was very quickly evident that “bang” I had well and truly shot myself in the head. This Dutch duo whose name seemingly translates as ‘Torturer’ are apparently one of black metal’s best kept secrets. I can’t see the ‘secret’ bit changing in the slightest even with Iron Bonehead having picked up their debut full-length. As for the use of the word ‘best’ it’s kind of like attempting to mention any ‘production’ on the album, an affront to people who actually produce music for a living!
This is as raw, primitive and as one of the track titles translates ‘crude’ as possibly imaginable. The earlier demo, EP, splits and live work that has been released prior to this cannot have been much worse in that respect surely? After an interesting medieval sounding intro part (suitable as apparently the album is ‘Tales Of A Dark Century’ in English) things just snarl in and go for it. It sounds like it has been recorded as the band hammer away live in the studio, the microphones may not even be positioned properly to all intents and purposes as far as the vocals are concerned hollowly dropped in the background behind buzz-saw guitars and thudding drums. The speakers are turned up to uncomfortable levels to try and get some more definition out of it and it sounds like a swarm of bees are attacking from the fuzz laden contusion. Perhaps they are as a distempered yell resounds as though the vocalist has been well and truly stung, “not the bees!” Nope let’s not mention that dreaded Wicker Man remake as even this course thudding musical hell does not deserve that. Anyway I am getting carried away a bit as the waspish snares kick in on the next one and my ears start ringing again from the tinnitus inducing noise of the track.
I have listened to this 5 or so times now in the hope of finding something good to say about it and tell you why the very kvltness of the act should try make you determined to seek this out but I am really struggling. It’s not all hammer and tongs, Folteraar take a turn for the slow on ‘Waan’ at odds with its supposed ‘Wild’ title but even then they fail to wring anything resembling a necessary atmosphere and emotion out their instruments. Any talk of “chaotic, near-psychedelic black metal” and ‘blackened punk’ can be taken with a pinch of salt. Anything distinguished from within the contorted miasma of the band at their fastest seems designed by accident more than anything else but if you like stuff that sounds like it was recorded in a basement then fair enough, you certainly won’t feel like a chump if you shell out on this. Naturally don’t go looking for official Internet presence there isn’t one.
(2/10 Pete Woods)
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