By all accounts, ten years is a hell of a long time. Especially, it’s a long time for a band of any sort to go without releasing much of anything. Things happen and life gets in the way, but not all are able to overcome to such an absence and return in such a form that feels compelling and delivers on much of that promise that was laid forth a literal decade ago. Those that can surmount such a challenge immediately make themselves known as talent to be respected. With its second album, Ozark Shaman more than proves itself as just such an act.
Apart from a single song released six years ago, it has well and truly been a few months shy of a full ten years that Ozark Shaman has gone without releasing any new material. However, it’s obvious that Ozark Shaman did not take that time idly as it is with the seven tracks of “A Traitor is Worse Than an Enemy” that we witness the fruitions of an intricate labor that spanned years with the results singularly captivating. This is black metal that hearkens back to the works of old that channel many different elements from the folk-inspired, atmospheric, and even electronics to explore many different themes with a sound that is surprisingly potent and cohesive from beginning to end. Whether you stay for the compelling riffs, rich atmospheres, or the simple but effective use of a banjo, “A Traitor is Worse Than an Enemy” stands undeniably tall as an example of one artist’s perseverance across time. Each of these tracks have loads of personality with Ozark Shaman expertly composing them for maximum effective around every turn with it all coming together as a spectacular work of the genre that is never once afraid to cross normal genre boundaries to pursue a sound that’s as unique thanks to the artist’s vision as it is compelling in its intricacies. “A Traitor is Worse Than an Enemy” saw its potential and more than delivers by the time the album comes to a close.
This is a dramatic example of quality over quantity. Whatever the reason Ozark Shaman had for the delayed release of this record after its last full release ten years ago, I cannot help but feel as though the wait was more than worth it given the splendor that we’re spoiled to throughout this piece. From top to bottom, “A Traitor is Worse Than an Enemy” is a gift to fans of black metal that aren’t afraid to think outside of the box and pursue something that delivers on all fronts.
LISTEN to “A Traitor is Worse Than an Enemy” on Bandcamp here.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhczZRCG15I