Aura Noir has existed since 1994, spawned from the black hell of stinking and slimy giant fleshconsuming killerflies by Apollyon
also in Dødheimsgard, Lamented Souls and Cadaver Inc. and Agressor aka Czralalso in Ved Buens Ende, Dødheimsgard,
Infernö, Virus and Cadaver Inc. Up until their new to come album, which is planned to be released
in 2001, Apollyon and Agressor interchanged roles as songwriter, drummer, guitar and bassplayer on every second track of every album. On the new album
however, which we are very much looking forward to, the lineup is somewhat more stable, as it is now Apollyon on bass and vocals,
Agressor on rhythm guitar, Blasphemer also in Mayhem on (lead)guitar and new member Dirge Rep
of Gehenna/Enslaved on drums.
Aura Noir
Two Voices, One King, Demo, 1994. Rating: Not Rated
Unfortunately none of us has checked out this their only demo.
Dreams Like Deserts, Hot Records, 1995. Rating: 60
Their first 6 track MCD which is o.k. Mirage is one of the highlights, but the rest tends to get somewhat boring. The sound
is early 80's Slayer and Kreator thrash and very early Sepultura with overexaggerated echo on the vocals. You know the style and can't help to feel a bit
nostalgic hearing this. Apollyon does vocals, guitars and drums. Aggressor does vocals, lyrics, bass, guitars and drums.
Black Thrash Attack, Malicious Records, 1997. Rating: 84
Let's get pissed on beer! This album is an invite to get drunk, I'm sure of it. It has so many great fucking riffs, they should
have called it "Aura Noir's guide to German thrash riffs". Kreator, Sodom and Destruction haven't released albums
in vain!
Songs like Conqueror, Wretched Face Of Evil and The Pest are new born/found classics, that easily could have been
written by one of the before mentioned bands in the early eighties. Aura Noir haven't even hidden the fact that they are so very
inspired by those bands, have a listen to The One Who Smite and Black Thrash Attack. Afterwards give these tracks a spin:
Fall Of Majesty Town by Sodom and Storm Of The Beast by Kreator, then you'll fully understand what I mean.
Well, being a big fan of old German thrash/speed metal I just can't praise this album enough. So I guess I'll stop raving now.
Buy this album now!
Agantyr wrote this review. Rating: 84. Gryn rates exactly the same.
Deep Tracts Of Hell, Hammerheart, 1999. Rating: 70
The first thing that strikes you, is the very raw sound. Actually as you go along, it sound like there's three different
productions or maybe this album has just being record during three different sessions? I haven't got the faintest idea. Anyway,
Aura Noir continue where playing their high octane no bullshit black thrash. Well, almost. On this album it seems they just
released it in order to get out of the deal they had with Hammerheart Records. The riffing is not as supreme as on Black Thrash Attack
(it would be VERY hard to top that!), though there are some great tracks on this album. Released Damnation and Blood Unity
being among the best. But it's just not the same, all the same it's a good effort. Just not good enough.
Agantyr wrote this review and the rating is solely based on his oppinion.
This is an Aura Noir album that contains absolutely no new material. The first 8 tracks is a collection of unreleased versions of some of the best Aura Noir songs. Track 1 and 2 are with guest vocalist mighty Fenriz
doing the Tom Araya screams (Slayer). Not as cool and insanely high as Tom Araya though. We must say that Apollyon and Agressor
are simply just better doing these thrashvocals, as is perfectly displayed on the screaming of the next 6 tracks. Blasphemer (Mayhem)
as always plays the guitars splendidly. Track 5 & 6 Swarm Of Vultures & The One Who Smite
(which still is a total rip off of Slayer's Angel Of Death) are taped live on Elm Street in Oslo 1998, and maaaan we envy those who attented that concert.
It is as if you can smell
the chaos and intensity in that little place just by listening two these two tracks.
Ofcourse a lot of envy also goes out to the guys who were at the Aura Noir release party in november this year.
Track 7 & 8 are also live recordings, this time of two songs from the
Black Thrash Attack album: the one of the absolutely greatest Aura Noir songs Wretched Face Of Evil and Fighting For Hell.
Track 9-14 is their MCD Dreams Like Deserts which really isn't anything special musically. The last track is the first Aura Noir song,
which was recorded in 1994 on a 4-track recorder. It's something different
from the others, it's still thrash though, and kind of made us laugh as the vocals sounds as an inmate from an insane asylum who's unable to control his voice as
he comes with sudden outbreaks of weird fast screams and insane laughing. Cool song, and cool that they put out these rare recordings which really makes
us mortals experience how the band has developed dramatically within these 5 or 6 years up until this release.
The remastered uncut version of their first MCD is to a rating of approximately 60-65. The other tracks are what pulls this to a total of 80. We can't wait for their
upcoming fulllength if they continue in the way they are developing right now. Unholy Thrash Metal is as dirty as a two dollar whore
and also a fucking cool headbanging excuse. Back to the roots of the almighty Slayer days!
Their first 6 track MCD which is o.k. Mirage is one of the highlights, but the rest tends to get somewhat boring. The sound
is early 80's Slayer and Kreator thrash and very early Sepultura with overexaggerated echo on the vocals. You know the style and can't help to feel a bit
nostalgic hearing this. Apollyon does vocals, guitars and drums. Aggressor does vocals, lyrics, bass, guitars and drums.
Let's get pissed on beer! This album is an invite to get drunk, I'm sure of it. It has so many great fucking riffs, they should
have called it "Aura Noir's guide to German thrash riffs". Kreator, Sodom and Destruction haven't released albums
in vain!
Songs like Conqueror, Wretched Face Of Evil and The Pest are new born/found classics, that easily could have been
written by one of the before mentioned bands in the early eighties. Aura Noir haven't even hidden the fact that they are so very
inspired by those bands, have a listen to The One Who Smite and Black Thrash Attack. Afterwards give these tracks a spin:
Fall Of Majesty Town by Sodom and Storm Of The Beast by Kreator, then you'll fully understand what I mean.
Well, being a big fan of old German thrash/speed metal I just can't praise this album enough. So I guess I'll stop raving now.
Buy this album now!
The first thing that strikes you, is the very raw sound. Actually as you go along, it sound like there's three different
productions or maybe this album has just being record during three different sessions? I haven't got the faintest idea. Anyway,
Aura Noir continue where playing their high octane no bullshit black thrash. Well, almost. On this album it seems they just
released it in order to get out of the deal they had with Hammerheart Records. The riffing is not as supreme as on Black Thrash Attack
(it would be VERY hard to top that!), though there are some great tracks on this album. Released Damnation and Blood Unity
being among the best. But it's just not the same, all the same it's a good effort. Just not good enough.
This is an Aura Noir album that contains absolutely no new material. The first 8 tracks is a collection of unreleased versions of some of the best Aura Noir songs. Track 1 and 2 are with guest vocalist mighty Fenriz
doing the Tom Araya screams (Slayer). Not as cool and insanely high as Tom Araya though. We must say that Apollyon and Agressor
are simply just better doing these thrashvocals, as is perfectly displayed on the screaming of the next 6 tracks. Blasphemer (Mayhem)
as always plays the guitars splendidly. Track 5 & 6 Swarm Of Vultures & The One Who Smite
(which still is a total rip off of Slayer's Angel Of Death) are taped live on Elm Street in Oslo 1998, and maaaan we envy those who attented that concert.
It is as if you can smell
the chaos and intensity in that little place just by listening two these two tracks.
Ofcourse a lot of envy also goes out to the guys who were at the Aura Noir release party in november this year.
Track 7 & 8 are also live recordings, this time of two songs from the
Black Thrash Attack album: the one of the absolutely greatest Aura Noir songs Wretched Face Of Evil and Fighting For Hell.
Track 9-14 is their MCD Dreams Like Deserts which really isn't anything special musically. The last track is the first Aura Noir song,
which was recorded in 1994 on a 4-track recorder. It's something different
from the others, it's still thrash though, and kind of made us laugh as the vocals sounds as an inmate from an insane asylum who's unable to control his voice as
he comes with sudden outbreaks of weird fast screams and insane laughing. Cool song, and cool that they put out these rare recordings which really makes
us mortals experience how the band has developed dramatically within these 5 or 6 years up until this release.