DRAGONLORD - Rapture
September 18, 2001, 23 years ago
(Spitfire)
Dragonlord is a long-suffering side idea platter from TestamentÕs Eric Petersen, featuring a bunch of capables (notably Testament touring axeman Steve Smyth and bass journeyman Steve DiGiorgio) bringing EricÕs black metal blood to the surface. The result is what amounts to precise, melodic evil black metal in the style of Dimmu Borgir or peripherally along the lines of Cradle in death Midian mode, at least with respect to the axe tones. The guitars, no surprise, are precise and slightly death thrashy, with many parts topped by rudimentary, clear and separate keyboard washes (that suck). Eric handles the vocals with vicious aplomb, proving that he could easily front a supergroup of this sort if need be. I can see the purists calling this an intrusion and an unimaginative though competent copy, a sort of demonstration, but through these ears, all I hear is a team of pros who have mastered the commercial end of black metal. I guess those statements are two of the same. An emotionally detached high grade of 8.
