Molten hellfire and plumes of billowing sonic smog spew forth from the very depths of hell as soon as Gorgoroth’s 2003 opus “Twilight of the Idols” begins. The album erupts immediately with “Procreating Satan”, a cacophonous miasma churning and growling like a sentient maelstrom. From there on, “Twilight…” slows its pace: the song “Proclaiming Mercy – Damaging Instinct of Man” and its immediate successor “Exit Through Carved Stones” thunder ponderously like a dying giant shrieking in agony.
The fourth track, “Teeth Grinding”, is almost hypnotic, even soothing, like the final stage of grief when one accepts fate and goes forth into the somber abyss of death, a song that could lull one to suicide. After Teeth Grinding, “Forces of Satan Storms” returns listeners to the breakneck aggression of the opener.
In spite of its unbridled animosity, “Twilight of the Idols” is a controlled burn; Its darkness expertly focused and wielded with lethal cunning by founding guitarist Infernus and crew. Twilight of the Idols is masterpiece of black metal, and brings to listeners an atmosphere both familiar, yet unique enough to stand by its own merit.
Towers of Rust 