siLLy puPPy DIVISION BLACK NOISE started out back in 2011 in Laredo, TX and has so far released one EP titled “Exiled By The Light,” a couple splits with Kav and Ominous Hymn and this so far only full-length eponymous album which came out in 2017. With so many one-man black metal band projects these days it’s almost a surprise when bands like this are indeed a band! This has had several members since its beginning but by the time it got to this album it was down to two which includes Surtr on drums and Andreas D on guitars, bass and vocals.

With so many designer black metal bands these days going all psychedelic or atmospheric or gaze or whatever on us, it also comes as a surprise when a band chooses to stick to the orthodoxies of second wave black metal with no nonsense tremolo guitar picking drenched in suffocating distortion, a barely audible bass line and raspy vocals all cranked out in as much lo-fi abrasiveness possible. The one thing missing here are blastbeats in a satisfying supply for the most part which is by far the weakest link although Surtr does have a few tricks up his sleeves.

With nine tracks that hit the 40 minute mark, DIVISION BLACK NOISE is a rather ordinarily sounding band with nothing really defining about its sound and while all is competently performed black metal there is really nothing that stands out in the least. While the black metal guitar sound are fairly standard there are a few lead guitar solos thrown in every once in a while but what really makes this stand out in a bad way is the the drums are usually set on simmer with just simple time keeping repetitive beats but on a few tracks they are much more dynamic such as on “Summer Solstice” which delivers the expected black metal goods.

As it stands DIVISION BLACK NOISE is nothing out of the ordinary for a black metal album. It’s noisy AF with all the second wave characteristics and delivers all the goods with a mixed bag in the drumming department. It does sound like the album was recorded over several years as certain tracks sound different from others but in the end this is a fairly by the books black metal experience with nothing to make it stand out from the burgeoning pack. For those into lyrics this one is dark and evil if that floats your boat.