A quasi-supergroup, Orcustus hails from the Norwegian school that denies that the 00s ever occurred. After forming in '02, their ragged, ratty, rasping first LP was released by Southern Lord, oft the purveyors of solid but unexceptional orthodox black metal. 'Orcustus' is dominated by droning tremolo riffs frequently punctuated with trills, and only once slows down to an Isengard kind of sludgy stomp. Its production is appropriately old school, excepting the overwhelmingly booming toms. Happily, they are rarely in use; the preferred swinging snare beat gives the snarling riffs a rocking edge. Satisfying, but more genuine than it is memorable.
