Formed in the forest hills of Norway, Coffin Storm comprises long-term friends Leif Nagell (aka Fenriz from Darkthrone), Jørgen Moe aka Apollyon (Aura Noir, Lamented Souls), and Olav Knutsen aka Bestial Tormentor (Infernö/Lamented Souls). Having known each other since the eighties, one of the most baffling things about this Kolbotn collaboration is that it’s taken so long to actually happen. But then again, when does Doom Metal ever feel the need to hurry?
With a new Darkthrone album just around the corner, the timing of Arcana Rising (Peaceville Records) is also quite surprising, but if this means the world gets a double helping of Fenriz within the space of a month then who are we to complain?
The next, and probably biggest talking point of the record, is Nagell’s unique vocal approach. Eschewing the snarling and gnashing of Darkthrone in favour of cleaner tones, the final result lies somewhere between his contribution to Storm‘s 1995 black metal folk album, Nordavind and traditional metal acts of time gone by.
The doom begins with the Celtic Frost-influenced “Over Frozen Moors”, Fenriz wailing like a pained Tom G Warrior as killer slow thrash riffs bulge with melodic leads before going full Candlemass towards the end. Written twenty years ago by Nagell and Knutsen, the title track follows with more Frosty influence and features narration that veers the song frighteningly towards Spın̈al Tap territory for a moment or two but just about manages to stay on track.
The epic, ten-minute track “Open the Gallows” comes in all guns blazing with a monstrous mid-paced central riff and Fenriz now just enjoying the hell out of himself, the song a cross between Mercyful Fate and Opus Eponymous era Ghost.
There’s more than a hint of Cathedral to the chuggy stomp of “Eighty-Five And Seven Miles”, the seven-minute-plus beast capped off with a riff that sounds like a doom version of Slayer‘s “Raining Blood”. The penultimate track “Ceaseless Abandon” builds slowly towards an uptempo and energetic final section before the record bows out with the epic doom of “Clockwork Cult”.
Unafraid to proclaim their influences from the highest mountains, Coffin Storm conjures up riffs that would sit well on any Pentagram record, Fenriz hitting more than a couple of genuinely impressive notes as he channels many of his heroes, occasionally simultaneously.
Authentic, honest, and certainly unique, from the classic riffs to the raw production, Arcana Rising is probably the most fun you’ll have listening to Doom all year.
Buy the album here:
https://coffinstorm.lnk.to/Arcana_Rising
8 / 10
GARY ALCOCK