Northern Chaos Gods
Immortal · 2018
42 min · 8 tracks · black metal
A fierce return to form, blending blistering riffs with icy atmospheres and haunting melodies characteristic of classic black metal.
Top tracks — play these first
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Northern Chaos Gods Start here — The title track encapsulates the album's essence with its relentless energy and anthemic chorus, serving as a rallying cry for fans and an introduction to the band's renewed vigor.
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Gates to Blashyrkh — This track channels the band's signature themes of dark fantasy and mythos, combining ferocious instrumentation with evocative lyrics that transport listeners to their legendary realm.
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Mighty Ravendark — Closing the album with an epic length and dynamic shifts, this song showcases Immortal's mastery of atmosphere and complexity, marking a powerful conclusion to their narrative journey.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong songwriting and production while maintaining a cohesive black metal sound.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a title track that features rapid-fire drumming and layered guitar riffs, establishing a high-energy atmosphere immediately.
- Each song typically follows a structure of alternating between aggressive blast beats and slower, atmospheric sections, creating dynamic contrasts.
- The final track, 'Mighty Ravendark', extends over eight minutes, incorporating extended instrumental passages that build tension before concluding the album.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady progression towards climax
- evocative soundscapes of desolation
- intense battlescape energy
- immersive journey through landscapes
- sharp riffs with icy melodies
Maybe skip if you
- prefer upbeat and light music
- seek short standalone tracks
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Strong release after a long hiatus, showcasing continued relevance in black metal.
- Career context
- Released on January 1, 2018, Northern Chaos Gods marked Immortal's first album in nearly a decade, following the 2009 release of All Shall Fall. This album emerged after a period of internal conflict and lineup changes, with founding member Abbath departing in 2015, leaving Horgh and Demonaz to forge a new direction for the band.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Emperor· Darkthrone· Mayhem
Tracklist
- 1 Northern Chaos Gods Start here 4:26
- 2 Into Battle Ride 3:51
- 3 Gates to Blashyrkh 4:38
- 4 Grim and Dark 5:27
- 5 Called to Ice 5:06
- 6 Where Mountains Rise 5:51
- 7 Blacker of Worlds 3:44
- 8 Mighty Ravendark 9:15
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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