Necroknight - The Skullthrone

It's not just a phrase: I have been waiting a long time for this album. Necroknight built up the suspense a bit. There is probably no other band that I have seen live as often as this one before the release of their debut. Repeatedly, I thought: it would be great to be able to listen to these songs at home in peace. Now this is finally possible!

The Skullthrone opens with a marvellous, atmospheric intro that couldn't be more epic. You can tell that the guys dig bands like Eternal Champion or Visigoth. However, the harsh vocals of Mirco, who is an enormously charismatic frontman, make it clear that Necroknight have their own style. Morgul Blade comes to mind as the closest reference – although there are also significant differences, especially in terms of riffing.

And here I come to one of the strongest points of this album. René and Kilian are a superb guitar duo, churning out numerous excellent riffs and leads. Generally speaking, I like the sound of the six-stringers that can be heard here – you could call it the perfect blend of melancholy and aggressiveness. On this level, the band is on a par with the aforementioned younger North American genre heroes.

The sound is also absolutely convincing. Remember: we are here in the deepest underground. Nevertheless, Necroknight present an album that sounds better than many releases by artists who have a much higher budget. In addition to the outstanding guitar sound, I would also like to draw attention to the rhythm section consisting of Jens (bass) and Simon (drums), who can be heard well here in the mix and set accents.

But what can the individual songs do? From my point of view, a lot. In general, The Skullthrone is an album that should be heard as a whole, also due to its playing time of 36 minutes. Necroknight create a very intense atmosphere, which shows that the guys are regulars at black metal festivals. Moreover, there are numerous moments that remind me of Dissection – a huge compliment for any band working with extreme elements.

To sum up: it is obvious that a lot of heart and soul has gone into this music, which is the opposite of cookie-cutter. Necroknight stand out from the crowd with their first full-length album – and based on their live qualities, which are well known to me, I can only encourage every concert organiser to book the quintet from the Münsterland.

Necroknight on Bandcamp: Click here.