In case you weren't aware, there is some scary shit happening in Illinois. Since 1998, the mysterious figure going under the alias of the Rev. JR Preston, has been cranking out the BEST Black Metal the US has to offer. But to call Tjolgtjar strictly Black Metal, is surely being unfair, when this music has so much more going on. This is OCCULT Black Metal!! Imagine an ungodly stew of the Euro-centric BM bands like Master's Hammer, Mortuary Drape, and Root, then throw in a heaping dose of American guitar driven Rock N' Roll, like Ted Nugent and Blue Oyster Cult and you are getting close. The Rev's vocals rotate between a high-pitched caterwaul that sounds like a cross between King Diamond, and that weird female sounding voice that Fenriz does on Goatlord. But his grim vocals are also some of the highest caliber, sounding like Abbath's possessed cousin and Linda Blair on a double date. But the REAL meat of Tjolgtjar's sound is the fucking guitar!! As I have told the Rev personally, I consider him the best guitar player in the entire US Black Metal scene! None of the European sounding "atmospheric, play all of the strings, and let it ring out" style of guitar......the Rev plays RIFFS! I mentioned Blue Oyster Cult earlier, and if Buck Dharma had an evil twin, guitar playing maniac of a son, then it's surely Mr. Preston. He infuses even the fastest songs with a sense of melody not usually associated with Black Metal, and more NWOBHM sounding than anything.
"I Am A Wolf" is not an "official" album, it's a collection of songs from splits and singles. But compiled together, you would never be able to tell it wasn't intended to play as a whole. Starting the record with "Rhinoceros" and ending with "Elephant", two of my favorite songs from Tjolgtjar was a stroke of genius. The title track is also a complete headbanger, and "The Halls of Pororium" is about as close to "traditional" BM as he comes. The Rev has well over 20 releases to his credit, but unfortunately a REAL label has not stepped up and signed this man, which is a true tragedy. He has been ripped off by countless labels, so I know that has affected his view of "the business", SSA plans to re-release some of his past works on Cassette. But, Tjolgtjar deserves to be on a label with a HUGE reach, and push, so he will continue to bless us with his blasphemous tunes.
This is a prefect place for the novice to start with Tjolgtjar, or if you want a "real" album, I suggest "Ikarikitomidun, Lord of the Forest" or "Kjal Tjormejn". I will post the link to his Facebook page, PLEASE contact him if you want to see what he has in stock, or if you just want to tell him how fucking awesome he is, he won't mind!
Format: Cassette
Label: Winter Solace
Length: 1:11:54
Rating 9/10
https://www.facebook.c
Nice!
ReplyDelete