THY PRIMORDIAL - Pestilence Upon Mankind
April 30, 2004, 19 years ago
(Blackend)
Sweden's Thy Primordial issued three thunderous melodic black metal classics between 1997 and 2000 which unfortunately went largely unnoticed. Combining ultra-high speed, vicious black metal, subtle guitar melodies and one of the most over-the-top vocalists around, the band progressed to the point where they truly were the kings of the sub-genre despite their criminally low profile. Pestilence Upon Mankind represents Thy Primordial's second release (sixth overall) since that golden era, continuing where 2002's The Crowning Carnage left off, delving more firmly into the hateful black metal side of the equation, minimizing their melodic tendencies. It also represents the first release without original vocalist Isidor, who is missed despite a more than adequate performance by new snarler N. Holstenson (ex-Nominon). The bottom line here is that while this truly is a violent expulsion from Satan's asshole, it moves the band further away from where they should stake their ground. Meanwhile new units like Kult Ov Azazel and Nephenzy Chaos Order are only too willing to step in to battle for the relinquished melodic black metal crown.
