Few labels can claim to have been as far-sighted and scene leading as Moonfog, the label set up by Satyricon front-man Satyr and Tormod Opedal, which held amongst its ranks the work of Darkthrone, Satyricon, Gehenna, Thorns and Khold. Genuinely committed to developing artists whose unique sense of darkness resulted in some of the most mesmerising albums in black metal, Moonfog’s catalogue is an enviable list of riches and it is fortuitous indeed that Peaceville, a label with a similar reputation for putting quality above quantity, have been able to access the label’s vaults and re-issue a large portion of Moonfog’s material. With good quality (and value for money) releases of Isengard , Gehenna and Thorns’ albums already available it is Khold’s turn to receive the reissue treatment and here, ‘Masterpiss of pain’ reappears in a super-jewel case complete with expanded artwork and a bonus track in the form of a demo.
Formed in Norway by Sarke (drums) and Gard (guitar/vocals), Khold rose from the ashes of the well-respected Tulus project due to the desire to play in a full band. With Rinn and Eikind recruited on guitar and bass respectively, Khold were signed to Moonfog in 2000 and they set about recording ‘Masterpiss of pain’ almost immediately. Like many of the artists on Moonfog’s roster, Khold operated on the fringes of the black metal scene with coldly industrial elements augmenting their razor-sharp guitars and hate-filled vocals. Eschewing the slow build-up of an introduction, the band leap straight into the fray with ‘Nattpyre’, a cold industrial groove that has a strong throbbing bass and guitars that groan under the weight of the riffs played upon them. Gard’s vocals are the mainstay here – ubiquitous and tortured they rise clearly above the mix to exhort untold horrors whilst the music forms an icy backdrop behind him. With lyrics sung in the band’s native tongue, there is no quarter given to commercial aspirations and yet the music has an accessible edge to it that makes the hairs stand up on the back of the neck even some ten years after the fact. It is a huge, crushing monolith of sound that is as hypnotic as it is brutal and it will appeal to fans of Thorns and Satyricon with no problems at all. ‘Den Store Allianse’ operates in a similar manner – crushing groove and overdriven guitars tearing through the fabric of civility all overtopped by Gard’s flesh-ripping vocals.
Short and satisfyingly uncompromising, ‘Norne’ is a mere two and a half minutes and yet due to its unremittingly intense nature it feels considerably longer. The guitars are a fizzing storm – part black metal/part sonic youth-esque art rock attack showing just how far Khold were prepared to push the boundaries on this record, while the bass and drums are an echoing portent of doom, thundering through the mix with oppressive weight. ‘Svart Helligoom’ is no less oppressive, but thanks to its more laid back tempo it relies on a crushing groove rather than a scarifying sonic firestorm of guitar to ram its point home. Still defiantly heavy, the dynamic as Khold shift tempo and style between tracks keeps the listener hooked from the first note through to the final burst of distortion. ‘Rovnatt’ reverses the flow by simultaneously speeding things up and dropping the bass to a low rumble from its previous prominent position. It’s a cold, diamond hard track that recalls early Darkthrone, particularly in the sneering, hatred-laden vocals which rasp over the top and simply drip with scorn. And then there’s the amazing ‘kaldbleke Hender’ which is simply a great metal song that melds a pile-driving bass with mid-tempo drums and the album’s best vocal performance. It recalls early Dimmu Borgir (I’m thinking ‘Stormblast’ here) and it is nothing more or less than an amazing rock track that takes a hypnotic pulsing groove and twists it with unworldly horror to come up with something truly special. It is a memorable and awe-inspiring blast of filthy black metal and it is the high point of the disc.
After such a blazing track ‘bortvandring’ takes the unusual step of mixing the atmosphere of ‘The wall-era’ pink Floyd with the harrowing, skeletal backdrop of primitive black metal. Quite astonishingly harrowing, these two tracks from the centrepiece of the album showcasing Khold’s ability to swap between crushing and memorable metal and towering swathes of gothic horror without missing a beat with the result that the listener is constantly challenged by the band’s ever-shifting sound. ‘Mesterverk av smerte’ is a storming, war-fuelled number that gives way to the short but near-perfect ‘Jol’ (also included in its demo form on this special re-release) which once again captures the brutal swing first evidenced on ‘kaldbleke Hender’. The final track, ‘Oyne I Arv’ closes things with unconventional time signatures and counter-intuitive bass work set against gruelling guitars rounding things out in an unpredictable and typically intriguing fashion.
For those who own the original of this excellent album this re-issue is hardly an essential purchase. While the updated artwork and packaging looks cool and the demo of ‘jol’ is of passing interest it’s not enough to warrant going out and buying it all over again. However, for those who missed out the first time this is yet another essential black metal gem to add to your purchase list. Icily cold throughout and boasting an astonishing vocal performance, Khold capably mix the grandeur of Emperor with the rawness of Darkthrone and the memorable songs of Satyricon and early Dimmu Borgir to create a dark, hauntingly atmospheric album that reaches, and often extends beyond, the perceived boundaries of black metal. Inspirational, unremittingly bleak and gloriously innovative, Peaceville have unearthed another gem.
