VALHALL — Amalgamation (review)

VALHALL — Amalgamation album cover Demo · 1989 · Thrash Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
1/5 ·
UMUR
"Amalgamation" is the second demo recording by Norwegian death/black/thrash/doom metal act Valhall. The demo was independently released in August 1989. It´s the successor to the May 1988 "Castle of Death" demo. Valhall formed in 1987 and featured Gylve Nagell (aka Fenriz from Darkthrone) on drums on their first two demos (and on some tracks on their third demo).

Stylistically the material on "Amalgamation" is a continuation of the hybrid thrash, black, and death metal style of the first demo but with more odd songwriting ideas and experiments thrown in. The vocals are raw shouting. The demo sounds like it was recorded live at the band´s rehearsal space but that turns out not to be true as it was actually recorded during July-August 1989 at the Valhall Studio in Oslo, Norway (which may actually very well be the band´s rehearsal space). The same studio where Fenriz would record the "Spectres over Gorgoroth" demo by Isengard the same year.

"Amalgamation" is on one hand a pretty extreme release but on the other hand it´s both odd and inconsistent in style and quality which diminishes its effect. It´s too sloppy and noisy and the songs feel disjointed and half finished. A 1 star (20%) rating is warranted.
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