On disc: Extol

 
- Undeceived
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 


 
- Undeceived
 
- Volker Raabe -
 
 


 
- Synergy
 
- Claudia Ehrhardt -
 
 

Synergy

(Century Media - 2003)



 
 

 

This is the 3rd album of the Norwegian band Extol. On Synergy the quintet combines death / black metal with melodies, hardcore elements and progressive parts. Former guitarist Ole Børund is back to replace Tor Magne S. Glidje, his replacement. The band of the Espevoll brothers invited some musicians to join them on cer­tain songs and so there is the well-known (in Norway) po / rock singer Maria Solheim on Paradigms. On Psychopath are some spoken word parts done by the Swedish industrial pioneer Samuel Durling of Mental Destruction. Psychopath is a track based on the black metal roots with progressive elements and the spoken words - partly combined with the black metal screams of Peter Espevoll - which gives the song the certain something. A very interesting track with tempi-changes and breaks. The guitar leads are partly played by Norwegian guitar hero Tore Moren, also on Nihilism 2002. But the band don't need the help of guest musicians. In comparison with the predecessor Synergy is more mature and homogenous. A huge step forward for the Norwegians. Nothing for purists!
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Undeceived

(Endtime Prod. - 2002)



 
 

 

The Norwegian quintet Extol is mainly based in the black / death metal genre, but the Espevoll brothers add elements from folk to jazz! Some tracks, like When Sleep Is Rest (an instrumental) are partly in the vain of bands like My Dying Bride and Opeth, other ones are fast black / death metal tracks like Time Stands Still. The jazz elements are obvious on the songs Ember which has slow, melodic parts and the next moment it's heavy and singer Peter Espevoll's growls turn the track into a mean black metal track. Meadows Of Silence is an instrumental song, a slow guitar track. One bonus track is a cover version of Believer's Shadow Of Death which should be interesting for old-school death metal fans.

A crude mixture of genres which is actually not my cup of tea... And even if there are metal fans who will like Extol, they are limiting themselves with this mixture. No musical limitation, but this ain’t music which will move the masses.
 
 










Claudia Ehrhardt


  
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Undeceived

(Endtime Prod. - 2002)



 
 

 

What a day! After the grunt karaoke of Catamenia I now have the latest release of Extol on my desk. But Undeceived isn't that bad! The band presents obscure, heavy death metal with melodic elements. When I listened to the title track Undeceived I thought that this is the best way to kick out my girl friend - even if I don't have one at the moment - when she's nagging me again. Next is Inferno which it exactly is! Brutal! Fans of brutal Scandinavian death metal should listen to Extol. If you not fanatic about this genre, then listen first!
 
 










Volker Raabe
(translation: Claudia Ehrhardt)

  
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