Black Absinthe – On Earth Or in Hell Review

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Whenever I have an album of a band I don’t know an image materializes in my mind regarding to the sound it makes. Of course, this image is never accurate enough to hit bull’s eyes all the time, but I must say I get it most of the times. With Black Absinthe and “On Earth Or in Hell” I didn’t get any near. My image was so different from the actual music I heard here. I guess it was the term black that biased my image because I always think the music would be close to Black Metal. I can’t help it, so sorry. However, to some extent, the music in here is dark, very dark. It’s a Metal with 1970’s slants and a vocalist that reminds a lot The Door’s Jim Morrison. Coming to think of it, it’s funny to relate both bands because The Door’s had their own kind of darkness even though their music can’t tell it.

Musicwise, “On Earth Or in Hell” is very complex. Not Extreme Metal complex, but the complexity that came with the 1970’s full of swing and experimentation. To some extent, I found the album experimental as “Jean Lanfray” tells me so. Now “Call of the Void” follows a sonancy that could related to early Extreme Metal being near Thrash Metal by its speed and acid vocals. It adds some modern guitar playing and some blastbeats. After listening to four tracks, it’s great to realize the album is a puzzle and my child of the night won’t ever guess what is coming next. Album tittle “On Earth Or in Hell” is here to prove it. Its Extreme Metal spirit is kept with some acid and corrosive vocals which gives it a more ethereal image. Instrumentals, though, are more related to Power Metal being a little epic. If my dear child of the night were to compare album warmer “Dead Queen” with grand finale “Twisted Past” the outcome would be puzzling because it’s difficult to believe both songs are from the same band.

“On Earth Or in Hell” is an album of big surprises. My dear child of the night won’t be disappointed with it if minds are open enough to new horizons.

Black Absinthe “On Earth Or in Hell” will be released on March 29th.

Track Listing:

  1. Dead Queen
  2. Nobody Knows
  3. Jean Lanfray
  4. Call of the Void
  5. On Earth Or in Hell
  6. The Hard Way
  7. Essentially F*ed
  8. Twisted Past

Watch “On Earth Or in Hell” official music video here:

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