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HUMUT TABAL
The Dark Emperor Ov The Shadow Realm

Self-released (2014)
Rating: 6.5/10

Named after a Sumerian entity said to transport souls to the land of the deceased, Humut Tabal is a Texan black metal act which formed in 2009.

The trio – who hail from a place called Dripping Springs – are vocalist / guitarist Grimzaar, bassist AED and drummer Njord. Mind you, if you ask me, there are too many moments on this eight-track composition which sound as if there’s a hell of a lot of programming going on. But hey, each to their own.

There are a number of bands which like to dabble with computerised experimentation, but the synths on offer here give the album a theatrical edge which tends to save it from being just another black metal album. But, Humut Tabal brings some nice melodic touches with the guitars racing along nicely, and in tandem with Grimzaar’s scratchy vocals. It’s just a shame that the drum has a rather clicky, rapid-fire quality.

Anyway, The Dark Emperor Ov The Shadow Realm is the second full-length opus from this bunch, coming some five years after 2009 debut Gods Ov Darkness, Hate And Flame. In spite of its shortcomings, it remains a reasonably potent platter with classical influences too. As a band, Humut Tabal seems to fit into that late 90s style of more technical black metal. There is a hint of industrial influence. Again, this comes to the fore with the machine gun style drums and programming, but these guys aren’t afraid to throw in a few curve balls to give the record an unpredictable air.

A majority of the tracks are tight and nifty – racing by on that rather annoying triggered drum – but when one finally gets into the album, tracks such as opener ‘Across The Boundless Land Ov Death’ and ‘Through The Forest And Twisting Shadow’ harbour a handful of melodic surprises.

There is certainly an avant-garde influence here too, with some of the more jazzy rhythms marrying well with the segments of icy speed. Even so, once each track unravels itself, each tune does have a tendency to melt into one another. When the band does put its mind to it though, there are some intriguing moments. For instance, ‘Furious Winged Helldaemons Soar’ offers more of a chug, and injects a deathlier growl to coincide with the typical black metal yelps. The drumming here is less irritating too and of militant structure, reminding me of some of the stick work I adored on Mayhem’s apocalyptic Grand Declaration Of War album (2000).

Elsewhere, I enjoyed the schizophrenic strains of ‘Alone, In Purest Silence’ with its epileptic tempos and atmospheric slower segments, while the epic title track has the impact of a meteorite hurling through space, such is its angry speed, before a sudden turn of pace brings us back in cohorts with a brooding melody.

The Dark Emperor Ov The Shadow Realm is very much a current black metal album that is happy to pay homage to some of the great bands who emerged from the grim inner circles of the early to mid 90s, and transformed this style into something more glacial. I’m always interested to hear bands that are trying to push the boundaries of their chosen field, and although this album lacks weight, it is an opus that refuses to sit still and be labelled.

Neil Arnold

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