by Jason D. TaylorImmortal's Nuclear Blast debut, and this Norwegian trio's seventh album to date, Sons of Northern Darkness, marks a monumental statement that reverberates throughout the black metal community. Sons of Northern Darkness is arguably one of the best black metal releases ever put forth, as it fully articulates what many other bands of this nature fail to embrace. Thick, meaty riffs dominate the album, as guitarist Abbath shreds the competition with mind-blowing melody and relentlessly brutal power. Abbath also controls vocal duty, and though his voice is darkly sinister, it holds a slight fringe of harmony that fleshes out each song. Add to that Iscariah's fiendish bass playing underlying Sons of Northern Darkness with an evil authority, while Horge's drumming decimates the competition with jackhammer beats. The fantastical lyrics allow the band to venture into fictitious territory, and each song carries the feeling that you are witnessing a marvelous novel unfold in front of your eyes. Songs like the epic "Tyrants" build to an earth-shattering crescendo of outlandish noise, yet one is never left disappointed. Sons of Northern Darkness is a masterpiece that any fan of black metal should own, yet also has an undeniable flair that even new listeners can find appealing.