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The demise of (the perhaps ironically named) Immortal would thankfully prove short lived. After the recent announcement of the Immortal reunion sent shockwaves throughout the Metal Nation, Abbath came out swinging with something other than the vicious Black Metal of his well known former and once again current group. I is a project band of sorts reportedly inspired by Abbath's stint in a Motörhead tribute act named the Bömbers. If you can't fathom what Immortal crossed with Motörhead would sound like, buy Between Two Worlds and be wholly satisfied. The mix is essentially 60% Immortal and 40% Motörhead. Oh, and it works well.
With a Scandinavian all-star line-up of Arve “Ice Dale” Isdal (Enslaved) on guitars, bassist Tom Visnes (a.k.a. T.C. King, ex-Gorgoroth), ex-Immortal drummer Armagedda, and somewhat familiar lyrics (mountains, storms, winds, and the north, anyone?) courtesy of ex-Immortal madman Demonaz, Abbath (vocals and guitars, of course) has struck out at the hearts and ears of extreme music fans. It is worth mentioning that Abbath himself credits the opening riff in “The Storm I Ride” to KISS (check out “Ladies In Waiting” from Dressed To Kill). I hear a Samhain vibe myself but who am I to argue? Also of note is the overall debt owed to Bathory, with “Far Beyond The Quiet” being a tribute to the fallen mastermind Quorthon.
Abbath mostly sounds like himself, no surprise there, though the title track showcases Abbath doing his best Lemmy Kilmister impersonation, which is a kick, really. At times the music on this record approaches the soundscapes of Immortal but then a massive Rock and Roll vibe overtakes the Black Metal affair. 'Tis interesting and quite listenable and the album as a whole is a rewarding experience if only as a prelude to the return of the sons of northern darkness. Of course, if you don't care for Abbath or Immortal I likely won't change your mind. From the press release: "Abbath wants to make the message clear that in the instance of this debut album, “I” [also] denotes the Roman numeral “One,” designating Between Two Worlds as the first of its kind in the new genre of rock-infused black metal." But what about labelmates Chrome Division?
| Tracklist |
| 1. The Storm I Ride |
| 2. Warriors |
| 3. Between Two Worlds |
| 4. Battalions |
| 5. Mountains |
| 6. Days Of North Winds |
| 7. Far Beyond The Quiet |
| 8. Cursed We Are |
: 41.53
| Buy other I albums |
