Maximum Metal Rating Legend

Throneum The Unholy Ones Company: Deathgasm Records Release: 2007 Reviewer: Etiam Genre: Death

Rating 2.5

Rudimentary blasphemy that takes us back to humbler days, when metal was a foul, smelly beast

Throneum are a rag-tag duo from Poland with a host of splits and EP's to their name. Perhaps the best way to sum up their sound would be to note that one of those splits was with Nunslaughter, a name that speaks for itself in terms of quantity, if not necessarily quality. Too, one can't help but be skeptical of 'The Unholy Ones', given that Throneum released three other titles in 2007. Nunslaughter aside, bands this prolific either tend to be Boris or boring.

Surprisingly, Throneum put forth a good effort on 'The Unholy Ones' that exceeds expectations, which were admittedly low. Thoroughly roughshod and undeniably amateur, Throneum still manage to leave a positive impression with rudimentary riffing, bellowed vocals, splashing d-beats, and painfully overdriven leads that bow down at black metal's first throne. Gutter-dwelling fans of early Bathory, Hellhammer, and Root will no doubt find something to appreciate here (though chances are any Throneum release would serve just as well.)

Don't expect too much, however. 'The Unholy Ones' is less than 18 minutes long, and only the title track exceeds three minutes. What's more, the groups mentioned above were exploring this territory some twenty-odd years ago, gaining notoriety for their extremetiy as much as their songwriting. In 2008, Throneum's sound is still an appalling one, to be sure, but it doens't quite muster the same awe-inspiring aura of its predecessors.

In sum, 'The Unholy Ones' is perfect Deathgasm fare: rudimentary blasphemy that takes us back to humbler days, when metal was a foul, smelly beast to which eyeliner, Billboard 200 debuts, and energy drink-sponsored tours were anathema. Abandon all grace, ye who enter here.