Since twenty five years Aura Noir have proven many times to be Norway’s blackened thrash metal kings and the sixth album simply entitled “Aura Noire” continues to unleash the band’s grimmest traditions with evident untamed fury.
“Dark Lung Of The Storm” opens the album with a generous dosage of obscure and frenetic guitar riffs leading the way to a rather blackened sonic realm but still keeping your favorite thrash dynamics alive and even if the rhythmic blasts are not exaggeratedly fast the whole instrumentation feels incredibly powerful and menacing.
As “Hell’s Lost Chambers” begins with moderate thrash rhythmic patterns and moody blackened vibes built by intriguing riffing & drumming it takes a while to pick up the expected fierce energy which will not necessarily follow the usual straightforward structure as guitars gain a theatrical darkened fluidity during a mysterious atmospheric breakdown.
With growing intensity “The Obscuration” is a black hole of diabolical screams and unstoppable thunderous grooves bearing visceral thrash urgency and delivering an overdose of tight guitar riffs and infectious leads that barely have any melodic hints.
“Shades Ablaze” will satisfy your moshpit needs with all the raw energy built by super groovy guitar riffs and precise drumbeats that often acquire extra feverish speed while a palpable hellish mood simply pervades every instrumental passage always enhanced by raspy borderline desperate screams.
The primordial nature of “Cold Bone Grasp” will hit you hard with another round of soaring guitar riffs that go straight to the point with no frills or special effects but an authentic raw blackened essence with the occasional groovy solo marching through solid rhythmic hooks.
Aura Noir’s devoted fanbase will find plenty of tasty guitar driven aggressive blasts throughout “Aura Noire” which feels absolutely relevant in the current scene and should not be considered just a nostalgic thrash metal album.