Release:

Spikefarm Records / Soulfood
May 2009

Info:

In the wake of the second wave of black metal or “norsecore”, if you will, Israthoum was formed in 1992 in Portugal under the Tolkien-inspired name of Grendel, by drummer Arvath and guitar player Arluth Dhu. Soon after Voxinferi a.k.a. Israth and his psycho shrieks joined as vocalist.

After two demo recordings, 1992's “Decapitation” and an untitled demo a year later, the band changed its name for the first time, to Geryous. The band's name got tweaked to its current moniker Israthoum somewhere around 1998 when also the key members of the band started relocating from Portugal to Rotterdam, The Netherlands. There they formed new alliances in order to fill in the blanks in the band's line-up, poaching members from Dutch black metal bands Perditor, Liar of Golgotha and the cult legend Funeral Winds.

In 2002 Israthoum released a self-financed MCD “The Art Of Malice” and 2005 saw the release of the band's record label debut in the form of reissue of another self-production, “The Black Scenery Avatar“. The current incarnation of the resilient band took its final form in 2005 when guitar player Kald rounded out the lineup.

Also the album in hand here, “Monument of Brimstone” is a re-release. Israthoum has released it, yes, you guessed, it, themselves last year through their own label S.A.R.S. Productions.

Light years improved from “The Black Scenery Avatar“, “Monument of Brimstone” isn't anymore held in the confines of harsh norsecore only, Israthoum has grown to display melancholic folkish tendencies usually connected with the early Emperor/early Borknagar tradition.

Tracklist:

01. Wearing You
02. Painters of Uncreation
03. Christ Null and Void
04. Soul Funeral
05. The Slanderer
06. My Death Grotesque
07. Fire, Deliverance
08. ...Through the Voices of the Dead

Line-up:

Israth - Vocals, Bass
Kald - Guitar
Agramon - Keyboards
Arvath - Drums