reviews of our full lenght album
power through unity
Full Album: Power Through Unity
Released by Folter Records in Febr 2014.
Tracks
1. Not Our Revolution
2. The Man of Steel
3. By My Bare Hands
4. The Last Goodbye
5. Katherine’s Chant
6. Power Through Unity
Reviews of this album are listed below. They are in different languages.
Released by Folter Records in Febr 2014.
Tracks
1. Not Our Revolution
2. The Man of Steel
3. By My Bare Hands
4. The Last Goodbye
5. Katherine’s Chant
6. Power Through Unity
Reviews of this album are listed below. They are in different languages.
Review by Nocturne Magazine. Language: Serbian Score 9,5 / 10
Jasnom konstrukcijom albuma „Power Through Unity“ The Committee stavljaju do znanja da bomba pod imenom „Holodomor“ nije bila slučajna. Naprotiv, deluje nam kao da je ova ekipa do tančina planirala akciju. Oformljen je mali, ali snažni vod, plan je izvršen vojnički precizno i, jednostavno, neprijatelj nije imao nikakve šanse.
Krilaticom „History is written by the Victors, We are the Voice of the Dead“internacionalni black/doom metal sastav THE COMMITTEE nas je upoznao sa debi ostvarenjem, odličnim „Holodomor“ čija je jeza bila utisnuta u svaku notu, svaki udarac, svaki krik. Koliko je diskografski prvenac bio pozitivno iznenađenje, toliko je prvi full-length konkretniji, zreliji, uobličeniji i najzad – efektniji.
Jasnom konstrukcijom albuma „Power Through Unity“ koji zvanično izlazi 28. februara preko Folter Records-a, The Committee stavljaju do znanja da bomba pod imenom „Holodomor“ nije bila slučajna. Naprotiv, deluje nam kao da je ova ekipa do tančina planirala akciju. Oformljen je mali, ali snažni vod, plan je izvršen vojnički precizno i, jednostavno, neprijatelj nije imao nikakve šanse. Album otvara fantastična himna „Not Our Revolution“ (kojom je inače zatvoren „Holodomor“), koja bez okolišanja kreće u juriš. Melodična, agresivna, direktna, i kao takva, hvata na prvo slušanje. Slušalac je sad prepušten svakom narednom naletu, nadajući se da će mu ova opaka gerila poštedeti život.
The Committee na dalje ne spuštaju tempo, već prodiru još dublje u neprijateljsku liniju. „The Man Of Steel“, „By My Bare Hands“ i „The Last Goodbye“ predstavljaju savršen triling koji razara sve pred sobom. Fantastični rifovi koji prosto sve vreme reže na nas, terajući nas da ostanemo budni i na položaju, da ne podlegnemo pritiscima jeze koja biva sve jača i sve prisutnija kako vreme prolazi. Atmosferičnost i dalje ostaje najjače oružje ovog sastava, pa su smrt, mučenja, hladnoća i siromaštvo, kroz muziku i tekstove perfektno prikazani. Uz poneke iznenađujuće promene u sviranju i pristupu, ovim numerama The Committeedokazuju da je nekada one-man projekat dosegao visine odličnog, pravog benda, a neizostavna naježenost nas prati kroz ceo ovaj put, pogotovo na kraju smrz
Jasnom konstrukcijom albuma „Power Through Unity“ The Committee stavljaju do znanja da bomba pod imenom „Holodomor“ nije bila slučajna. Naprotiv, deluje nam kao da je ova ekipa do tančina planirala akciju. Oformljen je mali, ali snažni vod, plan je izvršen vojnički precizno i, jednostavno, neprijatelj nije imao nikakve šanse.
Krilaticom „History is written by the Victors, We are the Voice of the Dead“internacionalni black/doom metal sastav THE COMMITTEE nas je upoznao sa debi ostvarenjem, odličnim „Holodomor“ čija je jeza bila utisnuta u svaku notu, svaki udarac, svaki krik. Koliko je diskografski prvenac bio pozitivno iznenađenje, toliko je prvi full-length konkretniji, zreliji, uobličeniji i najzad – efektniji.
Jasnom konstrukcijom albuma „Power Through Unity“ koji zvanično izlazi 28. februara preko Folter Records-a, The Committee stavljaju do znanja da bomba pod imenom „Holodomor“ nije bila slučajna. Naprotiv, deluje nam kao da je ova ekipa do tančina planirala akciju. Oformljen je mali, ali snažni vod, plan je izvršen vojnički precizno i, jednostavno, neprijatelj nije imao nikakve šanse. Album otvara fantastična himna „Not Our Revolution“ (kojom je inače zatvoren „Holodomor“), koja bez okolišanja kreće u juriš. Melodična, agresivna, direktna, i kao takva, hvata na prvo slušanje. Slušalac je sad prepušten svakom narednom naletu, nadajući se da će mu ova opaka gerila poštedeti život.
The Committee na dalje ne spuštaju tempo, već prodiru još dublje u neprijateljsku liniju. „The Man Of Steel“, „By My Bare Hands“ i „The Last Goodbye“ predstavljaju savršen triling koji razara sve pred sobom. Fantastični rifovi koji prosto sve vreme reže na nas, terajući nas da ostanemo budni i na položaju, da ne podlegnemo pritiscima jeze koja biva sve jača i sve prisutnija kako vreme prolazi. Atmosferičnost i dalje ostaje najjače oružje ovog sastava, pa su smrt, mučenja, hladnoća i siromaštvo, kroz muziku i tekstove perfektno prikazani. Uz poneke iznenađujuće promene u sviranju i pristupu, ovim numerama The Committeedokazuju da je nekada one-man projekat dosegao visine odličnog, pravog benda, a neizostavna naježenost nas prati kroz ceo ovaj put, pogotovo na kraju smrz
Review by: Destructive Music. Language: English. Score 10 / 10
Originally a solo project and the brain child of one Igor Mortis, The Committee was born but would soon become a four piece of members from across the globe. Mortis on vocals and guitar hails from Russia and he was joined by Belgian guitarist Aristo Crassade, drummer William Auruman and Belgian bass player Marc Abre. Originally a doom metal outfit, The Committee have now progressed into atmospheric black metal and Power Through Unity, released through Folter Records is the bands debut full length release and follows up their debut EP, Holodomor.
The sound of rapturous applause and the cold fingers of tremolo assail you as Power Through Unity gets under way but whilst the tremolo continues unabated the applause dies away in a sea of guttural growls and bleak riffs. Further in and the pace picks up into a crescendo of double kick drumming, symbol taps and winding, bleak black metal melody! Not our Revolution is the perfect opener displaying all of the murky gloom of true black production as well as a fierce catchiness that is hard to shake off. Suitably grim vocals sound out of the darkness and draw you in and as the lyrics go on state, “We take control“. Through an increased level of melody and the further crash of symbols the opening to this album grows ever more epic in sound and mood, a methodically created atmospheric experience with which to kick things off.
“BOW TO MEN OF STEEL” is growled at you with spite and malice and so begins The Men of Steel, another calculating track with an intense sounding melodic undertone, throbbing double kick drumming and a feeling deep inside of you, a stirring of emotions and passions for the ways of old, for battle and honour! Bring to mind any film you have seen or book you have read set a thousand years ago and think of how it made you feel, the images that we’re brought into your mind. Snow covered ground, huge mountain passes, pine forests and men doing battle with sword and shield, that is how The Committee make you feel whilst blast beating their way through this emotive track! A furious black metal call to arms, a triple dose of nostalgia for a time we never even knew. It isn’t all done through superb musicianship either although that helps. The song craft involved here is truly phenomenal. By the end of The Men of Steel the pace has slowed considerably yet the intense fury felt by The Committee never wavers as this truly break taking song takes on a far more nocturnal feel, torches aflame and men and nature shrouded in darkness.
It is a lighter approach that greets you for a brief moment, an interlude of ice like acoustic guitar that moves the mind and soul once more until the inevitable roaring to life like a thunder clap that signals another slow, dirge like blast of profound black metal that signals the start of By My Bare Hands, a track so cold it comes with a layer of frost and a melody so haunting that if you close your eyes a take a listen it could block out the entire world! Battle surely commences at the arrival of both double kick drumming and blast beats, a hard combination to pull off but one that The Committee’s drummer clearly has the talent for, and from there this powerful track simply climbs higher, soars longer and heightens your senses further, your blood racing and your heat pumping almost to the very beat the song is driven by! “With scars and slashes, RISE FROM THE ASHES!”
As winds howl over the hills a sombre harmony picks up, the mournful acoustic tones and slow, purposeful beats of The Last Goodbye briefly break the ferocity of The Committee’s sound but never the spell they cast on their audience and once more without even realizing it you are back within the gloom laden shroud of moderately paced, soul searching black metal that increases its speeds steadily until you are in the midst of catchy, powerful flowing melodies with harsh, guttural vocals! At their most atmospheric best such as they are here, The Committee are a true wonder, a deep, consuming musical force that should be enjoyed and experienced rather than reckoned with! When the band pick up their speed the true genius of their craft is laid bare for all to see, from superb ethereal riff based melodies, the changeable but always tight, thundering drumming, rumbling bass lines and an omnipotent growling fury from the vocalist all combine to make The Committee what they are, an awe inspiring black metal Tour Du Force and one where every track is the albums best because you just can’t pick out a weakness.
It is apt that Katherine’s Chant should begin with anthem inspiring drums and bass before the serious business of airy, soaring black metal should begin. This track feels more direct, more insistent and urgent and has a more driven, ambitious air too it which leads to bouts of swift aggression whilst never losing that intense, deep ambiance that the band create so well. Sadly though things must come to an end and The Committee find closure with the album title track, Power Through Unity! A cutting, biting track that wastes no time in getting straight to the point. Blast beats, menacing growls and the bands trademark signature grinding riffs, this is The Committee going out fighting, with sword in hand and as one! A thoroughly absorbing album is what The Committee has created and whilst the subject matter may have been done to death, when its played this well and with this level of passion and commitment, who honestly cares?
Originally a solo project and the brain child of one Igor Mortis, The Committee was born but would soon become a four piece of members from across the globe. Mortis on vocals and guitar hails from Russia and he was joined by Belgian guitarist Aristo Crassade, drummer William Auruman and Belgian bass player Marc Abre. Originally a doom metal outfit, The Committee have now progressed into atmospheric black metal and Power Through Unity, released through Folter Records is the bands debut full length release and follows up their debut EP, Holodomor.
The sound of rapturous applause and the cold fingers of tremolo assail you as Power Through Unity gets under way but whilst the tremolo continues unabated the applause dies away in a sea of guttural growls and bleak riffs. Further in and the pace picks up into a crescendo of double kick drumming, symbol taps and winding, bleak black metal melody! Not our Revolution is the perfect opener displaying all of the murky gloom of true black production as well as a fierce catchiness that is hard to shake off. Suitably grim vocals sound out of the darkness and draw you in and as the lyrics go on state, “We take control“. Through an increased level of melody and the further crash of symbols the opening to this album grows ever more epic in sound and mood, a methodically created atmospheric experience with which to kick things off.
“BOW TO MEN OF STEEL” is growled at you with spite and malice and so begins The Men of Steel, another calculating track with an intense sounding melodic undertone, throbbing double kick drumming and a feeling deep inside of you, a stirring of emotions and passions for the ways of old, for battle and honour! Bring to mind any film you have seen or book you have read set a thousand years ago and think of how it made you feel, the images that we’re brought into your mind. Snow covered ground, huge mountain passes, pine forests and men doing battle with sword and shield, that is how The Committee make you feel whilst blast beating their way through this emotive track! A furious black metal call to arms, a triple dose of nostalgia for a time we never even knew. It isn’t all done through superb musicianship either although that helps. The song craft involved here is truly phenomenal. By the end of The Men of Steel the pace has slowed considerably yet the intense fury felt by The Committee never wavers as this truly break taking song takes on a far more nocturnal feel, torches aflame and men and nature shrouded in darkness.
It is a lighter approach that greets you for a brief moment, an interlude of ice like acoustic guitar that moves the mind and soul once more until the inevitable roaring to life like a thunder clap that signals another slow, dirge like blast of profound black metal that signals the start of By My Bare Hands, a track so cold it comes with a layer of frost and a melody so haunting that if you close your eyes a take a listen it could block out the entire world! Battle surely commences at the arrival of both double kick drumming and blast beats, a hard combination to pull off but one that The Committee’s drummer clearly has the talent for, and from there this powerful track simply climbs higher, soars longer and heightens your senses further, your blood racing and your heat pumping almost to the very beat the song is driven by! “With scars and slashes, RISE FROM THE ASHES!”
As winds howl over the hills a sombre harmony picks up, the mournful acoustic tones and slow, purposeful beats of The Last Goodbye briefly break the ferocity of The Committee’s sound but never the spell they cast on their audience and once more without even realizing it you are back within the gloom laden shroud of moderately paced, soul searching black metal that increases its speeds steadily until you are in the midst of catchy, powerful flowing melodies with harsh, guttural vocals! At their most atmospheric best such as they are here, The Committee are a true wonder, a deep, consuming musical force that should be enjoyed and experienced rather than reckoned with! When the band pick up their speed the true genius of their craft is laid bare for all to see, from superb ethereal riff based melodies, the changeable but always tight, thundering drumming, rumbling bass lines and an omnipotent growling fury from the vocalist all combine to make The Committee what they are, an awe inspiring black metal Tour Du Force and one where every track is the albums best because you just can’t pick out a weakness.
It is apt that Katherine’s Chant should begin with anthem inspiring drums and bass before the serious business of airy, soaring black metal should begin. This track feels more direct, more insistent and urgent and has a more driven, ambitious air too it which leads to bouts of swift aggression whilst never losing that intense, deep ambiance that the band create so well. Sadly though things must come to an end and The Committee find closure with the album title track, Power Through Unity! A cutting, biting track that wastes no time in getting straight to the point. Blast beats, menacing growls and the bands trademark signature grinding riffs, this is The Committee going out fighting, with sword in hand and as one! A thoroughly absorbing album is what The Committee has created and whilst the subject matter may have been done to death, when its played this well and with this level of passion and commitment, who honestly cares?
Review By: Occult Black Metal Zine. Language: English. Score 8 / 10
The Committee are an international band that plays a very atmospheric form of black metal with elements of doom metal and this is a review of their 2014 album "Power Through Unity" which was released by Folter Records.
The album starts out with protest sounds and a few seconds alter clean guitars are added into the music before going into a more heavy and melodic direction along with some black metal vocals and then the album starts mixing in fast and mid paced parts along with some old school elements.
As the album progresses the band bring in a very epic approach to old school black metal while also having some doom metal influences which also really show up in the bass guitars and they can create a dark atmosphere without having to resort to synths or keyboards and they also bring in a small amount of death metal growls and when they bring in acoustic guitars it reminds me of the early 90's Polish black metal sound while not being a copy of them and bringing in other elements.
The Committee demonstrate a good amount of skill with their ability to take an old school black metal sound and bring in a small amount of doom metal to create a very epic sound and while this is not the most original sounding recording out there this band make up for it by putting a lot of thought and emotion in their music to create an epic album which remains true to the black metal tradition.
Song lyrics cover Occult, Philosophical and Conspiracy Theory themes, while the production has a very dark, raw, heavy and old school sound while you can still hear all of the musical instruments that are present on this recording as well as all of the songs being very long and epic in length.
In my opinion The Committee are a very great sounding epic black metal band and if you are a fan of this musical genre, you should check out this album. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "The Man Of Steel" and "Power Through Unity". 8 out of 10.
The Committee are an international band that plays a very atmospheric form of black metal with elements of doom metal and this is a review of their 2014 album "Power Through Unity" which was released by Folter Records.
The album starts out with protest sounds and a few seconds alter clean guitars are added into the music before going into a more heavy and melodic direction along with some black metal vocals and then the album starts mixing in fast and mid paced parts along with some old school elements.
As the album progresses the band bring in a very epic approach to old school black metal while also having some doom metal influences which also really show up in the bass guitars and they can create a dark atmosphere without having to resort to synths or keyboards and they also bring in a small amount of death metal growls and when they bring in acoustic guitars it reminds me of the early 90's Polish black metal sound while not being a copy of them and bringing in other elements.
The Committee demonstrate a good amount of skill with their ability to take an old school black metal sound and bring in a small amount of doom metal to create a very epic sound and while this is not the most original sounding recording out there this band make up for it by putting a lot of thought and emotion in their music to create an epic album which remains true to the black metal tradition.
Song lyrics cover Occult, Philosophical and Conspiracy Theory themes, while the production has a very dark, raw, heavy and old school sound while you can still hear all of the musical instruments that are present on this recording as well as all of the songs being very long and epic in length.
In my opinion The Committee are a very great sounding epic black metal band and if you are a fan of this musical genre, you should check out this album. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "The Man Of Steel" and "Power Through Unity". 8 out of 10.
Review By: Metal4.de. Language: German. Score 7 / 10
Nach dem ersten Demo „Holodomor“ melden THE COMMITTEE ihren Debüt-Longplayer „Power Through Unity“ über das Label Folter Records an. Die internationale Zusammenkunft von Black Metal-Funktionären hat Wurzeln in Belgien, Frankreich, den Niederlanden, der Ukraine und Russland. Die Band verfolgt dabei nach eigenen Angaben keine politischen Ziele oder Ideologien und vielleicht ist es gut, dass sie das noch einmal extra erwähnen, denn das Cover erinnert schon ein bisschen an Plakate von einigermaßen weit außenstehenden Bruderschaften. Die Erzählweise der Texte wird mit dem Blickwinkel “Geschichte wird von den Siegern geschrieben, wir sind die Stimme der Toten.” betitelt. Linernotes zu jedem Song gibt es hier – so kann sich jeder einfach mal ein Bild machen.
Kümmern wir uns doch mal um die Mucke! „Power Through Unity“ bietet nicht viel Neues, weder im Westen, noch im Osten. Wir haben es mit gefälligem Atmospheric-Black-Metal zu tun, der unterkühlt und ohne Mystizismus daher kommt. Vielleicht fühlt sich der geneigte Hörer mal an Under That Spell, vielleicht auch mal entfernt an Woods Of Desolation erinnert. Schöne Melodiebögen nehmen uns mit auf die Reise – gönnen uns ab und an noch einen Spritzer slawischer Folklore wie zum Beipsiel in ‘Katherine´s Chant’, aber auch im Titelstück der Scheibe. Diese Elemente werden jedoch ausschließlich mit modernen, (und in diesem Sinne) herkömmlichen Instrumenten erzeugt und drängen sich kaum auf.
Das ist im Großen und Ganzen gar nicht mal übel, aber die ganz große Magie letzten Endes fehlt. Vielleicht geht diese aber auch durch die müllige Produktion etwas unter. Denn bei aller Liebe für ein genre-gerechtes, der Atmosphäre zuträgliches und somit sicher auch gewolltes Understatement…, hier hätte das Kommittee ruhig ein bisschen mehr Budget beantragen können. Der Sound klingt als würde die Band ein Konzert in einer Wellblechhütte spielen und man selbst steht draußen.
Abgesehen davon sollten Genre-Fans in jedem Fall ein Ohr riskieren.
Nach dem ersten Demo „Holodomor“ melden THE COMMITTEE ihren Debüt-Longplayer „Power Through Unity“ über das Label Folter Records an. Die internationale Zusammenkunft von Black Metal-Funktionären hat Wurzeln in Belgien, Frankreich, den Niederlanden, der Ukraine und Russland. Die Band verfolgt dabei nach eigenen Angaben keine politischen Ziele oder Ideologien und vielleicht ist es gut, dass sie das noch einmal extra erwähnen, denn das Cover erinnert schon ein bisschen an Plakate von einigermaßen weit außenstehenden Bruderschaften. Die Erzählweise der Texte wird mit dem Blickwinkel “Geschichte wird von den Siegern geschrieben, wir sind die Stimme der Toten.” betitelt. Linernotes zu jedem Song gibt es hier – so kann sich jeder einfach mal ein Bild machen.
Kümmern wir uns doch mal um die Mucke! „Power Through Unity“ bietet nicht viel Neues, weder im Westen, noch im Osten. Wir haben es mit gefälligem Atmospheric-Black-Metal zu tun, der unterkühlt und ohne Mystizismus daher kommt. Vielleicht fühlt sich der geneigte Hörer mal an Under That Spell, vielleicht auch mal entfernt an Woods Of Desolation erinnert. Schöne Melodiebögen nehmen uns mit auf die Reise – gönnen uns ab und an noch einen Spritzer slawischer Folklore wie zum Beipsiel in ‘Katherine´s Chant’, aber auch im Titelstück der Scheibe. Diese Elemente werden jedoch ausschließlich mit modernen, (und in diesem Sinne) herkömmlichen Instrumenten erzeugt und drängen sich kaum auf.
Das ist im Großen und Ganzen gar nicht mal übel, aber die ganz große Magie letzten Endes fehlt. Vielleicht geht diese aber auch durch die müllige Produktion etwas unter. Denn bei aller Liebe für ein genre-gerechtes, der Atmosphäre zuträgliches und somit sicher auch gewolltes Understatement…, hier hätte das Kommittee ruhig ein bisschen mehr Budget beantragen können. Der Sound klingt als würde die Band ein Konzert in einer Wellblechhütte spielen und man selbst steht draußen.
Abgesehen davon sollten Genre-Fans in jedem Fall ein Ohr riskieren.
Review by: Schwarzesbayern.de Language: German
Ein bisschen skeptisch war ich ja schon: Eine Band namens The Committee präsentiert mir ein Debütalbum mit dem Titel Power through Unity mit einem Cover wie ein Propagandaplakat? Sofort projizierte mein Hirn Bilder aus dem Film V wie Vendetta, und als Skeptiker gegenüber jeder Form von Text ließ ich mich von dem Statement der Band auch herzlich wenig beeindrucken, man habe keinerlei politische Absichten, sondern wolle den Toten, die unter die Räder der Geschichte der Sieger geraten sind, eine Stimme geben. Gute Absichten in allen Ehren – was spricht die Musik?
Grundsätzlich hat man es bei dem Komitee mit atmosphärischem Black Metal zu tun, der mich vor allem durch die generell dumpfen Gitarren und die Tatsache überzeugt, wie die Instrumente hier gehandhabt werden. Vor allem, dass der Bass deutlicher im Vordergrund steht als sonst im Genre üblich, gefällt mir gut. Atmosphäre erzeugt auch die leicht dumpfe Produktion, die allerdings thematisch voll und ganz angemessen ist, geht es doch um die dunkle Seite der Geschichte.
„Not our Revolution“ beginnt mit Sprechchören und Applaus einer großen Menschenmenge, bevor dann die Gitarren einsetzen, die mich zu Beginn an das erinnern, was Hallig machen, dann aber schnell eigenständig werden. Der dumpfe Sound fällt sofort auf – mitnichten schlechte Produktion, sondern vielmehr gekonnt eingesetztes Stilmittel, das mir hier besser gefällt als ein glasklarer Klang. Inhaltlich handelt „Not our Revolution“ von der russischen Revolution gegen den Zaren respektive von den Menschen, die sich gegen die Revolution der Bolschewiken gestellt haben und deren Widerstand von den Genossen anschließend totgeschwiegen wurde.
„The Man of Steel“ hat nichts mit Superman zu tun, sondern mit Josef Stalin: „Bow to the Man of Steel!“ schreit und Sänger, Gitarrist und Bandgründer Igor Mortis entgegen. Es geht nicht nur darum, das Bild, das der Westen von Stalin hat, zu untermauern, sondern soll eine musikalische Analyse weniger der Person als vielmehr der Figur des Diktators sein. Kritische Auseinandersetzung sucht man hier vergeblich, allerdings muss das auch nicht sein, wie ich meine – zu dem Thema ist vieles schon gesagt.
Bleiben so gesichtslos wie die vergessenen Toten, über die sie singen: The Committee
„By my bare Hands“ setzt erneut mit diesen Hallig-artigen Gitarren ein, die sehr stimmungsvoll sind, und fordert gleich mal „freedom“ und „justice“. Es geht um die Arbeiter im GULag – aber nicht nur um diejenigen, die unter der Sowjetherrschaft in den Lagern ihr Leben verloren, sondern nimmt auch die lange Tradition der Arbeitslager in Sibirien, die in Russland bis heute fortgeführt wird, in den Blick. Vergleichsweise langsam schiebt sich die Musik voran, der monotone Rhythmus und die harschen Growls sind so kalt wie ein Wintertag an der Kolyma. Hin und wieder steigert sich das Tempo zur Raserei, um dann wieder in die Monotonie zurückzufallen. Als Leser Solschenizyns drängen sich hier wirklich unschöne Bilder auf, und mich packt die Stimmung in diesem Song sofort. Groß!
Bringe dem Soldaten im fernen fremden Land von Katjuscha einen GrußAn die Front kommt man mit „The last Goodbye“, das die Schrecken der Ostfrontsoldaten aller Länder im Zweiten Weltkrieg verhandelt. Auch hier herrschen eher doomige Elemente vor, was den Eindruck, dass man sich hier in einem absoluten Todesraum befindet, aus „By my bare Hands“ aufgreift und weitertransportiert. Hier alterniert das Tempo zwischen beängstigender Ruhe und brutalem Trommelfeuer. Thematisch im Zweiten Weltkrieg bleiben wir auch mit „Katherine’s Chant“, einem Lied über die Katjuscha, den von den Deutschen Soldaten mit Schrecken „Stalinorgel“ getauften Raketenwerfer der Roten Armee. Bei diesem Titel hätte ich mir wesentlich mehr Tempo und Blastbeats gewünscht, der Einsatz ist ebenso langsam-schleppend-doomig wie bei den vorhergehenden Liedern, nimmt dann allerdings an Fahrt auf. An das gleichnamige und überaus bekannte russische Liebeslied „Katjuscha“ erinnern die letzten Minuten des Songs mit einem astreinen Black-Metal-Cover, das langsam ausklingt – so makaber wie die Tatsache, einen Raketenwerfer „Katjalein“ zu nennen.
Der Titelsong „Power through Unity“ nimmt schließlich die Propagandamaschinen und die Manipulation der Menschen in Deutschland und Russland vor und während des Krieges in den Blick – und sendet musikalisch interessante Signale aus, denn hier werden die Nationalhymnen beider Länder in den Gitarrenriffs miteinander vermischt. Russland und Deutschland sind beides Länder, die sich nicht so ohne weiteres von der Geschichte freimachen können, aber The Committee haben eine deutliche Botschaft: Propaganda, über Jahrzehnte in die Köpfe der Menschen eingehämmert, hindert uns heute daran, in Bezug auf den jeweils anderen über seinen eigenen Schatten zu springen. Hinter der Propaganda stehen die sinistren Mächte, die immer von Krieg, Leid und Zerstörung profitieren. Eine Interpretation der Geschichte, über die man sicherlich streiten kann, allerdings ist die Hoffnung und ein großes Stück positive Energie, die beiden Nationen zugeschrieben wird, am Schluss deutlich herauszuhören, und damit bin selbst ich als studierter Historiker zufrieden.
Mich verwundert generell der Fokus auf die russische Geschichte etwas, denn bei The Committee hat man es mit einem internationalen Projekt zu tun: Sänger und Gitarrist Igor Mortis kommt aus Russland, Drummer William Auruman ist Ungar, Klampfer Aristo Crassade Franzose und Bassist Marc Arbre Holländer. Gut, es mag daran liegen, dass Igor Mortis für die Texte zuständig ist und die russische Geschichte vielleicht besonders viel hergibt an dunkler Vergangenheit (von den Nazis mal abgesehen, aber auf eine weitergehende Verwurstung dieses Themas hoffe ich nicht). The Committee erfinden musikalisch das Rad nicht neu, liefern aber ein stimmungsvolles Album ab, das bei mir sicherlich noch die ein oder andere Runde im Player drehen wird. Den Ansatz, die Verlierer der Geschichte in den Fokus zu nehmen, halte ich soweit für gelungen; thematisch . Ich hoffe, The Committee lassen sich davon nicht irritieren, und bin gespannt auf die Alben, die da hoffentlich noch folgen!
Review by: Support Black Metal Zine. Language: English. Score 10/10
At first, I was sceptic: A band called The Committee presents a debut album entitled Power Through Unity with a cover like a propaganda poster? At once my brain produced pictures from the movie V for Vendetta, and as a trained sceptic towards any form of text I wasn’t that much impressed by the band’s statement that they had no political intentions whatsoever, but wanted to pay a tribute to all the name- and faceless dead who have been forgotten by history. Well, as good as this intention may be – what about the music?
The Committee produces, generally speaking, atmospheric Black Metal that convinced me with dull and depressed guitars and the fact that especially the bass is more in the front than usually in this genre. The production is dull as well, creating a gloomy spirit well suited to this attempt to show the dark sides of European history.
“Not Our Revolution” begins with chants and applause of a huge crowd before the guitars kick in, producing a sound that reminds me a bit of their german colleagues Hallig but quickly becoming something of its own. The dull sound described above immediately gets to you, a stylistic device well used here. The first song is about the Russian revolution against the Tsar and about those who stood not with the Bolshevik but against them, their resistance and losses being hushed up by the comrades afterwards to eliminate them from history.
“The Man Of Steel” continues the story – it has nothing to do with Superman, but is about Josef Stalin: “Bow to the Man of Steel!” screams singer, guitarist and founder of The Committee, Igor Mortis, at us. It is not about confirming the picture the western world has of Stalin but to undertake a musical analysis of Stalin as a self-invented figure. Critical thoughts on that subject are not given, but in my opinion a critical examination of this matter is not necessary, for this is art, not a history lesson (though maybe The Committee mean their work to be both – I don’t think this works out properly).
“By My Bare Hands” evokes perfectly the terror and abhorrence of the Russian GULags in Siberia and demands “freedom” and “justice” within the first lines. The song is not only about the victims of Stalinist terror, rather the long tradition of sending people to forced labour camps in Russia that still continues today is brought into focus. Compared to “The Man Of Steel”, the rhythm is slower, monotonous, and the harsh growls are as cold as a sunless morning in Kolyma. Now and then, the tempo rises for a moment just to fall back into mindless stupor and monotony again, and as a reader of Solzhenitsyn’s works really atrocious pictures come to my mind, the dark atmosphere gets to me immediately – “By My Bare Hands” is great in its pure mindless darkness.
Find the soldier in the distant trenches, bring him from Katyusha greetings fondEndless trains through bleak, devastated landscapes – “The Last Goodbye” takes us to the front and summons the fears and terrors every soldier had to feel during the Second World War. Here, too, the rather doomy elements are in the foreground and show you’re in a zone where only death reigns, just like in “By My Bare Hands”. The speed alternates between alarming calm and brutal barrage. We stay on this scene with “Katherine’s Chant”, a song about the Katyusha, the Red Army’s rocket battery, christened by the scared German soldiers “Stalinorgel”, Stalin’s organ. I wish for a bit more speed and blastbeat in this song that starts as sagging and slow as the last one but gains tempo after a while. A reminder of the Russian folk song with the same name are the last minutes, a pure Black Metal cover of “Katyusha”, lead by the bass that picks up the melody and as macabre as the fact that a rocket battery is called after the diminutive form of “Katherina”.
The title song “Power Through Unity” finally takes the subject to the propaganda campaigns and the manipulation of the Germans and Russians during the war – and sends a musically interesting signal, because the national anthems of both countries are mixed up in the guitar riffs. Russia and Germany are both countries that can never be free of their history, butThe Committee has a clear message here: Propaganda, hammered into skulls over decades, today still restrains us, still manipulates us, still makes us see the worst in each other. And behind this campaign are sinister forces that profit from fear and hatred, from war and destruction and pain. This interpretation of history is surely one to debate about, but The Committee express hope and a good deal of positive energy, clearly heard in the end – and even I, historian that I am, am satisfied with that.
The focus on Russian history is a bit astonishing because The Committee is an international project: Singer and guitarist Igor Mortis is, as said above, Russian, drummer William Auruman is from Hungary, second guitarist Aristo Crassade is French and bassist Marc Arbre Dutch. Well, Igor Mortis is responsible for the lyrics and maybe Russian history is just dark enough for a Black Metal project? The Committee didn’t reinvent the wheel here but deliver a really impressive debut that won’t leave my player soon. The basic approach to focus on the losers of history is in my opinion successful and I am looking forward to their next albums!
Our score: 10/10
At first, I was sceptic: A band called The Committee presents a debut album entitled Power Through Unity with a cover like a propaganda poster? At once my brain produced pictures from the movie V for Vendetta, and as a trained sceptic towards any form of text I wasn’t that much impressed by the band’s statement that they had no political intentions whatsoever, but wanted to pay a tribute to all the name- and faceless dead who have been forgotten by history. Well, as good as this intention may be – what about the music?
The Committee produces, generally speaking, atmospheric Black Metal that convinced me with dull and depressed guitars and the fact that especially the bass is more in the front than usually in this genre. The production is dull as well, creating a gloomy spirit well suited to this attempt to show the dark sides of European history.
“Not Our Revolution” begins with chants and applause of a huge crowd before the guitars kick in, producing a sound that reminds me a bit of their german colleagues Hallig but quickly becoming something of its own. The dull sound described above immediately gets to you, a stylistic device well used here. The first song is about the Russian revolution against the Tsar and about those who stood not with the Bolshevik but against them, their resistance and losses being hushed up by the comrades afterwards to eliminate them from history.
“The Man Of Steel” continues the story – it has nothing to do with Superman, but is about Josef Stalin: “Bow to the Man of Steel!” screams singer, guitarist and founder of The Committee, Igor Mortis, at us. It is not about confirming the picture the western world has of Stalin but to undertake a musical analysis of Stalin as a self-invented figure. Critical thoughts on that subject are not given, but in my opinion a critical examination of this matter is not necessary, for this is art, not a history lesson (though maybe The Committee mean their work to be both – I don’t think this works out properly).
“By My Bare Hands” evokes perfectly the terror and abhorrence of the Russian GULags in Siberia and demands “freedom” and “justice” within the first lines. The song is not only about the victims of Stalinist terror, rather the long tradition of sending people to forced labour camps in Russia that still continues today is brought into focus. Compared to “The Man Of Steel”, the rhythm is slower, monotonous, and the harsh growls are as cold as a sunless morning in Kolyma. Now and then, the tempo rises for a moment just to fall back into mindless stupor and monotony again, and as a reader of Solzhenitsyn’s works really atrocious pictures come to my mind, the dark atmosphere gets to me immediately – “By My Bare Hands” is great in its pure mindless darkness.
Find the soldier in the distant trenches, bring him from Katyusha greetings fondEndless trains through bleak, devastated landscapes – “The Last Goodbye” takes us to the front and summons the fears and terrors every soldier had to feel during the Second World War. Here, too, the rather doomy elements are in the foreground and show you’re in a zone where only death reigns, just like in “By My Bare Hands”. The speed alternates between alarming calm and brutal barrage. We stay on this scene with “Katherine’s Chant”, a song about the Katyusha, the Red Army’s rocket battery, christened by the scared German soldiers “Stalinorgel”, Stalin’s organ. I wish for a bit more speed and blastbeat in this song that starts as sagging and slow as the last one but gains tempo after a while. A reminder of the Russian folk song with the same name are the last minutes, a pure Black Metal cover of “Katyusha”, lead by the bass that picks up the melody and as macabre as the fact that a rocket battery is called after the diminutive form of “Katherina”.
The title song “Power Through Unity” finally takes the subject to the propaganda campaigns and the manipulation of the Germans and Russians during the war – and sends a musically interesting signal, because the national anthems of both countries are mixed up in the guitar riffs. Russia and Germany are both countries that can never be free of their history, butThe Committee has a clear message here: Propaganda, hammered into skulls over decades, today still restrains us, still manipulates us, still makes us see the worst in each other. And behind this campaign are sinister forces that profit from fear and hatred, from war and destruction and pain. This interpretation of history is surely one to debate about, but The Committee express hope and a good deal of positive energy, clearly heard in the end – and even I, historian that I am, am satisfied with that.
The focus on Russian history is a bit astonishing because The Committee is an international project: Singer and guitarist Igor Mortis is, as said above, Russian, drummer William Auruman is from Hungary, second guitarist Aristo Crassade is French and bassist Marc Arbre Dutch. Well, Igor Mortis is responsible for the lyrics and maybe Russian history is just dark enough for a Black Metal project? The Committee didn’t reinvent the wheel here but deliver a really impressive debut that won’t leave my player soon. The basic approach to focus on the losers of history is in my opinion successful and I am looking forward to their next albums!
Our score: 10/10
Review by: Musikreviews.de Magazine. Language: German. Score 11/15
THE COMMITTEE spielen eine Mischung aus Doom und Black Metal, entsprechend fies und schleppend klingt ihr erstes Album. "Power Through Unity" ist eine schwarze Dampfwalze mit gelegentlichen Blastbeat-Attacken, bei denen die Gitarrenleads aber nicht mitziehen, sondern wie bei ENDSTILLE erhaben und gemächlich im Hintergrund vorbei schweben. Diese Leads sind es, die dem monotonen Krächzen von Fronter Igor Mortis entgegenwirken und dem Album Tiefe und eine dunkle Schönheit verleihen.
Igor Mortis, gebürtiger Russe, gründete seine Band 2007, blieb einige Jahre das einzige Mitglied und rekrutierte dann Musiker aus ganz Europa, mit denen er 2013 das Demo "Holodomor" aufnahm. Neben ihrem kraftvollen Black Doom ist die thematische Ausrichtung das Besondere an THE COMMITTEE. Die Band bezeichnet sich selbst als "die Stimme der Toten", als ein Gegengewicht zur offiziellen Geschichte, die von den Siegern geschrieben werde. Die Rede ist von der russischen Geschichte, den Verbrechen des Totalitarismus und den Gräueln des Zweiten Weltkrieges, allerdings, so betonen THE COMMITTEE es selbst, ohne politische Ausrichtung.
Der thematische Schwerpunkt spiegelt sich natürlich in den Texten wieder. "Holodomor", der Titel des ersten Demos, bezieht sich auf die ukrainische Hungersnot in den 1930er Jahren, die von 23 Staaten – Deutschland und Russland sind nicht dabei – als Völkermord anerkannt wird. Die Schuld am Hungertod von bis zu 14 Millionen Menschen wird Stalin zugeschrieben, nach dem der Song "Man of Steel" vom Debütalbum betitelt ist. "By My Bare Hands" handelt von der Zwangsarbeit im Gulag, das majestätische "The Last Goodbye" von Soldaten an der Front.
Doch der Fokus auf Russland, insbesondere auf die Herrschaft Stalins, wirkt sich auch auf die Musik aus. So wurde ein russisches Volkslied in den Song "Katherine's Chant" eingewoben, "Power Through Unity" zitiert die deutsche und die russische Nationalhymne. Der Song- und Albumtitel steht für den Zusammenhalt beider Nationen, der Vergangenheit zum Trotz. Kein Wunder, dass THE COMMITTEE bemüht sind, jegliche politische Motivation abzustreiten.
Ob man diesen Beteuerungen nun Glauben schenkt oder nicht: Black Metal lebt von der Provokation, von der Kontroverse. Was das angeht, haben THE COMMITTEE alles richtig gemacht. Ihr Album bietet Stoff für Diskussionen, und darüber hinaus einen faszinierenden Sound zwischen Verzweiflung und Triumph. "Power Through Unity" mag einige Längen haben, doch dafür entschädigen erhabene Melodien und reichlich Atmosphäre.
FAZIT: Black Metal mit Doom-Elementen und ohne Satanismus, dafür mit Texten über die Herrschaft Stalins. Anders, interessant und streckenweise sehr gelungen.
THE COMMITTEE spielen eine Mischung aus Doom und Black Metal, entsprechend fies und schleppend klingt ihr erstes Album. "Power Through Unity" ist eine schwarze Dampfwalze mit gelegentlichen Blastbeat-Attacken, bei denen die Gitarrenleads aber nicht mitziehen, sondern wie bei ENDSTILLE erhaben und gemächlich im Hintergrund vorbei schweben. Diese Leads sind es, die dem monotonen Krächzen von Fronter Igor Mortis entgegenwirken und dem Album Tiefe und eine dunkle Schönheit verleihen.
Igor Mortis, gebürtiger Russe, gründete seine Band 2007, blieb einige Jahre das einzige Mitglied und rekrutierte dann Musiker aus ganz Europa, mit denen er 2013 das Demo "Holodomor" aufnahm. Neben ihrem kraftvollen Black Doom ist die thematische Ausrichtung das Besondere an THE COMMITTEE. Die Band bezeichnet sich selbst als "die Stimme der Toten", als ein Gegengewicht zur offiziellen Geschichte, die von den Siegern geschrieben werde. Die Rede ist von der russischen Geschichte, den Verbrechen des Totalitarismus und den Gräueln des Zweiten Weltkrieges, allerdings, so betonen THE COMMITTEE es selbst, ohne politische Ausrichtung.
Der thematische Schwerpunkt spiegelt sich natürlich in den Texten wieder. "Holodomor", der Titel des ersten Demos, bezieht sich auf die ukrainische Hungersnot in den 1930er Jahren, die von 23 Staaten – Deutschland und Russland sind nicht dabei – als Völkermord anerkannt wird. Die Schuld am Hungertod von bis zu 14 Millionen Menschen wird Stalin zugeschrieben, nach dem der Song "Man of Steel" vom Debütalbum betitelt ist. "By My Bare Hands" handelt von der Zwangsarbeit im Gulag, das majestätische "The Last Goodbye" von Soldaten an der Front.
Doch der Fokus auf Russland, insbesondere auf die Herrschaft Stalins, wirkt sich auch auf die Musik aus. So wurde ein russisches Volkslied in den Song "Katherine's Chant" eingewoben, "Power Through Unity" zitiert die deutsche und die russische Nationalhymne. Der Song- und Albumtitel steht für den Zusammenhalt beider Nationen, der Vergangenheit zum Trotz. Kein Wunder, dass THE COMMITTEE bemüht sind, jegliche politische Motivation abzustreiten.
Ob man diesen Beteuerungen nun Glauben schenkt oder nicht: Black Metal lebt von der Provokation, von der Kontroverse. Was das angeht, haben THE COMMITTEE alles richtig gemacht. Ihr Album bietet Stoff für Diskussionen, und darüber hinaus einen faszinierenden Sound zwischen Verzweiflung und Triumph. "Power Through Unity" mag einige Längen haben, doch dafür entschädigen erhabene Melodien und reichlich Atmosphäre.
FAZIT: Black Metal mit Doom-Elementen und ohne Satanismus, dafür mit Texten über die Herrschaft Stalins. Anders, interessant und streckenweise sehr gelungen.
Review by Stefano Cavanna for www.iyezine.com. Language: Italian. Score: 8,5 / 10
Una copertina a dir poco sospetta e molti altri particolari inerenti questa band potrebbero scoraggiare l’ascolto da parte di chi cerca di tenersi alla larga da dischi che possano, in qualche modo, mostrare un preciso schieramento degli autori a livello ideologico.
Passando al vaglio tutti gli aspetti, dalla grafica ai testi, istintivamente verrebbe da collocare questa band, che ha la propria base operativa in Belgio, piuttosto a destra ma, al riguardo, i The Committee dichiarano di essere apolitici, essendo il loro unico intento quello di dare una voce ai morti, in particolare a quelli che, nelle diverse guerre che hanno insanguinato l’Europa negli ultimi cent’anni, si sono trovati dalla parte degli sconfitti.
A questo punto devo necessariamente fidarmi del russo Igor Mortis e soci (tutti provenienti da nazioni differenti), perché, fortunatamente, per farmi ricredere mettono sul piatto un argomento potentissimo quale è la musica, che giunge a spazzare via buona parte delle remore nell’avvicinamento a questo disco.
Power Through Unity, infatti, è uno splendido album a base di un black doom dai toni perennemente drammatici e solenni, come impone del resto la scelta lirica della band che verte essenzialmente su una rilettura dei momenti più tragici della storia russa dalla rivoluzione in poi.
Una produzione impastata il giusto, che forse toglie limpidezza ai suoni rendendoli nel contempo ancora più cupi, una scelta stilistica che predilige ritmi medi o rallentati, e brani che mantengono sempre alta una certa tensione emotiva, sono le caratteristiche peculiari di un lavoro che, indubbiamente, si rivela una piacevole sorpresa, presentando al suo interno due episodi formidabili per intensità quali By My Bare Hands e The Last Goodbye, entrambi pesantemente influenzati dal doom, ma senza che per questo il resto della tracklist sia trascurabile: Not Our Revolution e The Man of Steel sono due mid-tempo di grande spessore, nei quali i The Committee si muovono come una sorta di versione raffinata degli Immortal, con le chitarre a tessere con il caratteristico tremolo linee melodiche di sicuro coinvolgimento.
Non da meno neppure Katherine’s Chant, che nella parte finale riprende la melodia dell’omonimo e notissimo canto popolare sovietico, mentre Power Through Unity costituisce l’emblema dell’auspicata coesione tra i popoli russi e germanici, riuscendo a inserire in maniera efficace i temi portanti dei due inni nazionali all’interno della canonica struttura black.
Il tema della riscrittura della storia a seconda di chi sia il detentore del potere è sicuramente sempre attuale (e noi italiani lo sappiamo molto bene), così come è altrettanto evidente che i punti di vista possano cambiare, a seconda del vissuto delle popolazioni coinvolte e, in ogni caso, penso che nessuno possa avere qualcosa da eccepire sulla condanna delle atrocità subite dai deportati nei gulag o sulla commiserazione delle vittime delle guerre; detto questo, ribadisco che questo album d’esordio dei The Committee, al netto delle tematiche trattate, è comunque uno dei migliori che mi sia capitato di ascoltare in questa prima metà del 2014 e, alla fine, questo è ciò che più conta.
Una copertina a dir poco sospetta e molti altri particolari inerenti questa band potrebbero scoraggiare l’ascolto da parte di chi cerca di tenersi alla larga da dischi che possano, in qualche modo, mostrare un preciso schieramento degli autori a livello ideologico.
Passando al vaglio tutti gli aspetti, dalla grafica ai testi, istintivamente verrebbe da collocare questa band, che ha la propria base operativa in Belgio, piuttosto a destra ma, al riguardo, i The Committee dichiarano di essere apolitici, essendo il loro unico intento quello di dare una voce ai morti, in particolare a quelli che, nelle diverse guerre che hanno insanguinato l’Europa negli ultimi cent’anni, si sono trovati dalla parte degli sconfitti.
A questo punto devo necessariamente fidarmi del russo Igor Mortis e soci (tutti provenienti da nazioni differenti), perché, fortunatamente, per farmi ricredere mettono sul piatto un argomento potentissimo quale è la musica, che giunge a spazzare via buona parte delle remore nell’avvicinamento a questo disco.
Power Through Unity, infatti, è uno splendido album a base di un black doom dai toni perennemente drammatici e solenni, come impone del resto la scelta lirica della band che verte essenzialmente su una rilettura dei momenti più tragici della storia russa dalla rivoluzione in poi.
Una produzione impastata il giusto, che forse toglie limpidezza ai suoni rendendoli nel contempo ancora più cupi, una scelta stilistica che predilige ritmi medi o rallentati, e brani che mantengono sempre alta una certa tensione emotiva, sono le caratteristiche peculiari di un lavoro che, indubbiamente, si rivela una piacevole sorpresa, presentando al suo interno due episodi formidabili per intensità quali By My Bare Hands e The Last Goodbye, entrambi pesantemente influenzati dal doom, ma senza che per questo il resto della tracklist sia trascurabile: Not Our Revolution e The Man of Steel sono due mid-tempo di grande spessore, nei quali i The Committee si muovono come una sorta di versione raffinata degli Immortal, con le chitarre a tessere con il caratteristico tremolo linee melodiche di sicuro coinvolgimento.
Non da meno neppure Katherine’s Chant, che nella parte finale riprende la melodia dell’omonimo e notissimo canto popolare sovietico, mentre Power Through Unity costituisce l’emblema dell’auspicata coesione tra i popoli russi e germanici, riuscendo a inserire in maniera efficace i temi portanti dei due inni nazionali all’interno della canonica struttura black.
Il tema della riscrittura della storia a seconda di chi sia il detentore del potere è sicuramente sempre attuale (e noi italiani lo sappiamo molto bene), così come è altrettanto evidente che i punti di vista possano cambiare, a seconda del vissuto delle popolazioni coinvolte e, in ogni caso, penso che nessuno possa avere qualcosa da eccepire sulla condanna delle atrocità subite dai deportati nei gulag o sulla commiserazione delle vittime delle guerre; detto questo, ribadisco che questo album d’esordio dei The Committee, al netto delle tematiche trattate, è comunque uno dei migliori che mi sia capitato di ascoltare in questa prima metà del 2014 e, alla fine, questo è ciò che più conta.