I am a sucker for blackened thrash, which brings up the question "why is this the first time I have heard Aura Noir?"
The Norwegian band has been around since the early 1990's, but have now only released five full-length albums. Nevertheless, for some reason they have been operating under my radar despite performing a style of music that I rank as one of my favorite metal forms. Norway is not really known for their thrash metal bands, although this is not pure thrash. Aura Noir is made up of former members of a number of well-known Norwegian black metal bands, most notably Blasphemer of Mayhem.
This album brings to mind early Sodom and Venom albums. It is fast, filthy, and raw, just the way blackened thrash metal should be. It does not rise to the levels of ugliness present on a Gospel of the Horns or Bestial Warlust release, but that is not really the intention. The goal is to call back to a simpler time when bands were fusing the sounds from Motorhead, hardcore punk, and trying to up the evil factor.
This album is a neck-breaker. It's fast-paced, dirty metal all the way through. The band never slows down. This may have been the first time I heard Aura Noir, but it will not be the last.
Blackened Thrash just covers so many of the basics that make metal kick your ass! These guys are really good at it. Actually, Blasphemer seems to be good at everything!
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