Rough Edge: Kozeljnik CD Reviews

KOZELJNIK

"Null: The Acheron of Multiform Negation" (Paragon; 2013)

Reviewed by Jeff Rogers

This is the third dark twist from Serbian black metal band Kozeljnik. It contains four brand new tracks plus two bonus tracks taken from their 2007 EP "Sigil Rust." Galloping drums, brooding guitars and dark vocals make up the whole of this disc; you can spin this evil sludge and slowly get pulled under to their world where everything is black and full of desolation.

You'll find no clean vocals on "Null: The Acheron of Multiform Negation" primarily because the bonus tracks are taken from a place where black noise was created to replace the voices in your head. The guitar on the newer tracks does show some metal attributes-- a pick slide here, a guitar pinch there -- in a genre where the formula hasn't changed in a long while. It's good to hear a bit of the new being stabbed into the old.

Since Kozeljnik consists of only two dark forces it is quite the jam session with a streaming scrape of deluge being the product.

Kozeljnik: K - vocals, guitars; L.G. drums; Usud - bass (session).

For more information -http://www.facebook.com/Kozeljnik.

"Deeper the Fall" (Paragon; 2010)

Reviewed by Mike SOS

Serbian black metal unit Kozeljnik projects a consistent stream of mid-tempo bleakness on "Deeper the Fall," the latest six-track effort by the recently pared down duo.

Exerting disdain with vengeful wrath via a set of meandering old school tinged black metal compositions, Kozeljnik sticks a bit too close to the blackened playbook for the more demanding yet reveal the propensity to explode with a flurry of fury when needed, dynamically dispersing rage with rapid fire drums and discontenting downtuned guitar runs.

Applying influence from the likes of Mayhem, Celtic Frost, and Immortal to develop a reliably glacial blend of black metal, Kozeljnik meshes in lush string arrangements and modern atmospheric elements for pizzazz yet the squad’s drawn-out song structures require modest amounts of patience in order to get to the points of interest, derailing the meat and potatoes music’s intended maliciousness.

For more information, check out http://www.myspace.com/kozeljnik.

Rating Guide:

A classic. This record will kick your ass.

Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.

So-so. You've heard better.

Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.

Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.

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