'Ice Palace' Demo (2001)

Review by Vrag Moj (http://vrag.cjb.net)

This is a new one-man project from Sydney. There is little to say about their 

history apart from the fact that they can never settle on a name (changed 

to Storm Weaver now) and that this recording has been about 2 years in the

works.

The result then, is outstanding. The music is obviously inspired by Abyssic

Hate and Burzum, but a lot more dynamic and upbeat than the former, while

borrowing some melodic/strumming techniques, but being otherwise far in

sound from the latter. The songs are tightly constructed into short, but powerful

musical statements, that arrive at a different point from where they departed.

Xeraxis’ approach seems to focus on rather elaborate intros and intermediate

passages, with the lyrics urged over drawn out, melancholic chord progressions.

What is important is that there is a lot of variation and minimalist development of

musical themes, which may not sound complex, but are difficult to arrange

properly, therefore the music is traditionally repetitive without seeming so.

The first song “Hydra” is probably the “hit single” on the recording, being the

most catchy and accessible piece of flesh-slashing Black Metal. The second, 

Lycanthropic Warrior”, bearing a short, morbid keyboard into is probably my

favourite, because of the streaming middle section. The third song is notable

for untraditional guitar bridges between the verses that break up the standard

flowing nature of Black Metal. Allbear a heavy, depressive atmosphere cast

in great melancholic phrases.

Produced at home, but well, on a digital 8-track resulting in a very clean and

pleasant digital sound, uneven on the edges of guitar static this is a great

demo from a very promising band.