Black metal fans saw their collective sorrow hit new depths last year when Abbath, co- founder of Immortal, left the legendary Nor wegian band amid a copyright dispute. As it turns out, Abbath’s solo debut sounds close enough to Immortal that it obviates the long-awaited follow-up to 2009’s All Shall Fall. Six of Abbath’s eight tracks—“Winter’s Bane” and “Count the Dead” in particular— are smoothly shaped chunks of onyx, and naturally, they’re all about war, mountains, winter and death. The album’s dismount is a bit wobbly, but it doesn’t spell doom for the 42-year-old’s otherwise sterling effort.
Score: 8 out of 10
Abbath
Abbath
Season of Mist
Producer: Abbath
