Troll Neo-Satanic Supremacy

by Jorden Rex
Staff Writer

A band name as generic as Troll, frankly, brings to mind music that is poorly produced, poorly written, and all-around sub-par. What a welcome twist, then, that Troll’s latest release, Neo-Satanic Supremacy is none of those things! It is surprisingly well-produced with diverse and interesting songs. Some are fast and furious, while others pull back a little and allow the keys to come forward a bit. It is not, by any means, atmospheric or symphonic Black Metal, but they have made room for some keyboards; they’re there, but not the focal point of the music.

The drumming is more just blast beats and furious double bass. While Ygg clearly demonstrates that he is capable of prolonged bouts of 150+ bpm beats, he doesn’t feel the need to spend the entire album proving it. He uses his china cymbal liberally (instead of just the high-hat and ride), and likes to throw in some off-beats just to make things a little more interesting.

The title track from Neo-Satanic Supremacy is a stand-out for a couple reasons. One expects a title track to be something of an opus or a grand work. It is not this time. It follows the longest, slowest song on the album, “Hvor Taken Ligger Sa Trist Og Gra (Where the Fog Lies So Sad and Grey?)”, and sets itself off right away by coming in strong and keeping an unrelenting pace throughout. However, at only 2:29, it is the shortest song on the album.

All in all, a pretty good album full of pleasant surprises. Neo-Satanic Supremacy could be on par with Old Man’s Child’s Ill Natured Spiritual Invasion or Dimmu Borgir’s Spiritual Black Dimensions (which is not all that surprising, as Nagash was in Dimmu on that record). This album seems to get better with each listen. Definitely worth picking up if you’re into Black Metal at all.

Web: www.myspace.com/troll
Label: Napalm Records

Band Line-up:
Nagash – Vocals/Guitars
Tlaloc – Guitars/Vocals
Vold – Bass/Vocals
Exilis – Keyboards
Ygg – Drums

Track Listing:
1. Til Helvete Med Alt
2. Alt For Satan
3. Ga Til Krig
4. Burn the Witch
5. Morkets Skoger
6. Hvor Taken Ligger Sa Trist Og Gra
7. Neo-Satanic Supremacy
8. At the Gates of Hell
9. Smertens Rike
10. Age of Satan

Hardrock Haven rating: 7/10