GORGOROTH – Instinctus Bestialis

Gorgoroth – Instinctus Bestialis (2015, Soulseller Records)

After a series of Black Metal Hall of fame potential records, Norwegian band Gorgoroth has been a ridiculous caricature of itself. Aligning a huge criminal record from its members and a legal dispute over the band’s name, it is almost an historic worthy of soap opera.

With their most recent release, Instinctus Bestialis, Gorgoroth has been more and more distant from the sound of black metal and almost make a metalcore/metal album. Which is not a bad thing by any means. But the whole thing is uninspired and lacks of real soul. The quality of the production is high and the sound feels clear with a live presence almost organic.

However, we are miles away from their earlier efforts and I guess that few fans are still hooked on what the band still tries to make. The album feels like this high school friend you met many years later high school and tell yourself that’s why we don’t get together anymore. He’s changed and he’s not the same anymore. Even if it’s in a good way, the band Gorgoroth is just not the same. This could be the record of any other band. Even worse this could be from hundreds of other bands and it felt flat and not deserving.

5.9