I - Between Two Worlds (Nuclear Blast)

I's "Between Two Worlds" is unquestionably an album born from love of Motorhead. Apparently Abbath, the heir to northern darkness himself, since Immortal's breakup in 2003 has been fronting a Motorhead tribute band; the Bombers. Needless to say the resulting style is a bit unexpected. Abbath's vocals intentionally lack the unending grimness that fans of Immortal know and love. The guitars, particularly on "Battalions" tease at a history of speed picking and doom laden empathy but never succumb to their old masters. Lyrically, I is as icy as any of Abbath's previous work, but he manages to replicate the energy of Motorhead classics on "The Storm I Ride" and "Cursed We Are". The rest of the album comes up a bit hollow, like its lacking a layer or two of beer swilling gusto that seems natural in a Lemmy influenced sound. Fans of both Immortal and Motorhead will have to keep an open mind although I have a feeling you'll either love it or hate it. "Between Two Worlds" is definitely an apt title for this hybrid.

Kienan Almeida