If there was a Black Metal album more anxiously anticipated in 2009 than Gorgoroth's newest, it is Immortal's All Shall Fall. "Comeback" albums, as you doubtlessly are well aware, typically fail catastrophically; old fans await the new material eagerly and hungrily, excited by the reunion...and are let down when they hear that the band has lost it and probably has just sold out. It is with the grimmest, coldest heart, then, that I inform ye of Immortal's total smashing of this stereotype.
Personally, Immortal reuniting was one of my life's dreams, and was ecstatic upon learning of it. Indeed, I got into Immortal following their break-up, but after having gotten into them, I wished for a reunion of them more than almost anything else, music or otherwise. Accordingly, I ordered the Blashyrkh Limited Bag Edition of the CD format, the Bag edition; the shirt it came with is decidedly lame, just a black shirt with their modern logo and the title All Shall Fall underneath it. However, the poster it came with, and the pins with the members, including Demonaz, on them are cool, and Abbath's-axe-pendant is awesome.
Where to begin with the music... the instant the first, and eponymous, reminded me instantly of a fusion between Sons of Northern Darkness and Pure Holocaust. It's got the modern Immortal sound but the sort of...musicality, if you will, of PH. Songs like "Hordes to War," and "Arctic Swarm" however, will remind you that Immortal are still the masters of fast-as-fvck, grim and frostbitten Black Metal. They are brutally heavy and in your guts (in your face is for death and thrash metal). For me, the standout track is "Norden on Fire," with its setting-winter-sun-over-snow-covered-land clean intro leading into what may be Immortal's most epic, cold-grooving, giant blizzard beast of a song. The songs of this album truly reconcile Immortal's two sorts of sounds, pre- and post-At the Heart of Winter.
The album is also even more epic than its predecessor, with its ambient sound laden intros and its clean bridges, segues, et al. Calling it "epic" is, I daresay, doing it a disservice, since that term has become too thin for Immortal - legendary is perhaps better. Regardless, Abbath is ever the master of spreading a riff out perfectly, and you can hear this in such tracks as "Norden on Fire" and the closer, "Unearthly Kingdom."
The tone in this album is great, too. It's not exceedingly dark, like I feel SoND is (not that said is a negative, just a statement of characteristics); it's got a modern production quality while still maintaining its kvlt, cold Black Metal status. First stated should be that it was recorded in Grieghallen and Abyss Studios - that should speak volumes there. The ENGL Powerball Abbath used is very clearly here, with their newish endorsement with ENGL. It is a plus - the Powerball has a huge sound, a huge bottom end, and it really shines through on this. The mids on the guitars are nice and low, giving it a throaty, meaty, somewhat muffled sound, allowing the bass and drums to beautifully (read: grimly) cut through. Drums sound sharp and huge, as one could expect Horgh's to sound, and the bass is clear and glassy.
If you are into Black Metal and are unfamiliar with Immortal, let them into your life - your only regret will be not having heard them sooner. This album and band rule - they truly are the sons of northern darkness; they are the tyrants. If you like Immortal, suffice it to say the album is everything you'd hope for, so get it; regardless, it's very much a "must-own."
If you should be one of those warped types who dislikes Immortal...go screw.
