Mikseri.net

There’s something very, very disturbing about this Japanese trio and their music. Something disturbing, bordering on the repulsive. The base ingredients of their music, old school Black Metal (a’la Hellhammer) and so forth, may not be apex of originality, but I would not like to speak of Gallhammer in terms of who they sound like or what influences can be heard in their music, as the concoction they make is something rather unique in many ways, even though the base ingredients may not be.

From the ghastly opening tack, aptly titled “Endless Nauseous Day” to the unnerving last track, “Color Of Coma”, whose vocal performance matches that of Stalaggh in terms of atmosphere, emotion and intensity, “Gloomy Lights” is an ugly, filthy and disturbing experience. The trio really tap the power of negativity and destruction successfully, channelling something completely alien in their music. Something hostile, something destructive, some inhuman presence.

All in all, “Gloomy Lights” is a refreshing album. It’s quite a while since I’ve heard a Metal-album that is as genuinely disturbing and unnerving as this, without resorting to any shock tactics… “Gloomy Lights” is disturbing and unnerving by virtue of the music alone, not by any extramusical antics, ‘shocking’ images or provocative, over-the-top lyrics. Two thumbs up.