OBTAINED ENSLAVEMENT
The Shepherd and the Hounds of Hell LP GOLD

Hammerheart Records, golden vinyl, ltd. 400, re-issue

Norwegian Black Metal classic re-issued! The fourth and final Obtained Enslavement album for the first time on vinyl! We do not know if it’s only our imagination, but when people discuss Black Metal bands from Norway then they often forget about Obtained Enslavement. It surely is not because we think they were unworthy being mentioned. Maybe it’s just because Obtained Enslavement was never considered a leading force on the Norwegian black metal scene and then it makes us forget about their uniqueness and brilliance. Well, for sure they are a band that every fan of Norwegian Black Metal should know and have the albums in their collection. They’re probably one of the first bands, which can be called symphonic black metal, but their music, despite having a strong keyboard/orchestral background, was simply way more harsh and uncompromising when compared to other symphonic bands. “Soulblight” and “Witchcraft” were killer albums. But there’s also another one, which people often forget to mention, maybe because it is a bit different compared to the two just mentioned and it differs musically. We are talking about “The Shepherd and the Hounds of Hell”! The approach on this album is different, a bit more easy to listen to, filled with melodic, memorable parts, less chaotic, rough and less fast and with a strong professional production. Gone is the real dark and obscure atmosphere of the earlier albums, but don’t be afraid, “The Shepherd and the Hounds of Hell” is still an excellent effort. Obtained Enslavement remind us of bands like Diabolical Masquerade, Enslaved, Dimmu Borgir, Tartaros and Kvist on “The Shepherd and the Hounds of Hell”. Combining their mastery of creating profound Norse black melodies and the always-intense throat-scarring screams of vocalist Pest (Gorgoroth) in seven songs here, this band has created an excellent record.