Five and a half years after the debut Dawn Of A New World (I think it was the last release for defunct Black Metal label Warfront Productions), Dark Ravage, hailing from Vilnius, the capital city of Lithuania, did return with the sophomore full length, The Fall Of Inner Sanctum. It was the second release for Vilnius-based label Forgotten Path Records, released in an edition limited to 300 copies only on compact disc. The album was recorded at the Ophys Studio and the Muzikos Laboratorija with studio assistance of Nahash’s Vytautas Stankus (he did some mastering duties for e.g. Dissimulation, Nekkralai, Ossastorium, Fuck Off And Die! or Amžius amongst others) and lasts for almost fifty minutes.
The quartet (on this recording: vocalist Necrontyr, bassist Odium, drummer / guitarist GarLoq, and guitar player Šiaurys) brings the essence of Black Metal, firmly rooted within the Nordic-styled Nineties’ trend. Okay, once again (here I go again) it surely lacks of originality, but once again once again (here I go again again) I do not give a f*ck about not being original. Actually, the result is what counts, and in Dark Ravage’s case I am enormously impressed. You know, with exception of ‘echoing’ vocals, Dark Ravage’s Fall Of Inner Sanctum reminds me a lot to Norwegian heroes Forgotten Woods especially.
The band comes with all clichés known within this specific sub-genre: lots of changes in tempo, a nice equilibrium in between melody and energy, the obliged acoustic additions, an epic performance, freezing riffs, hammering drum patterns, and a sound so rough yet oh so divine. And that’s a strength (one of the strengths) that characterises this release. A Norway-inspired Second Wave recording simply needs that specific rawness in sound. Well, the production indeed is unpolished and anti-sterile, and at the other hand not too muddy or too dense either. Within the mix, you can surely experience all aspects; even the sublimity of the bass melodies is quite recognizable. Though… I really like the drum parts, but from time to time the cymbals are too much at the foreground. But that isn’t just a tiny detail.
Composition- and performance-wise, I already mentioned the limited varying character. For sure it might bother some, because it’s always fine if you see a band developing an own face, even within a specific, non-original trend. No matter how convincing the result might be; this is an aspect that might frighten an audience that is rather looking for renewing elements. Though, it’s a pleasure to experience quite a diverse yet still coherent combination of ‘emotions’. Anger and hatred, as well as melancholy or pride have easily been injected within the song writing. However, being an honest reviewer (from time to time), I cannot but mention the lack of diversity in between all tracks. ‘Within’ each piece, there are the many changes in structure and speed, as said before, and the few acoustic intermezzi, but even after three listens I sometimes wonder whether I did hear this or that part before. The totality of the album is attractive; the individual details aren’t always as memorable… But then again, there are some highlights as well (personally I get aroused by the introduction riffing on Void That Chaos Has Created, or some melodies à la Forgotten Woods, Kampfar or Hades (Almighty), a.o.).
So, is this a killer or a filler? Actually, I am enormously surprised, the positive way, by the honesty, the ‘tribute’-aspect of this band and their performance. I admit that this isn’t but a personal, totally subjective statement, but hey, I am the reviewer, okay. I do not know whether Dark Ravage are still active. If so, and if there’s the intention to write and record new stuff, they must consider some ‘personality’, and why not, some ‘native’ aspects (the Baltic scene has quite some convincing characteristics too, so why not making use of this advantage?). But if you, dear reader, are not allergic to ‘true’ and ‘pure’ Nordic-oriented and epic-melodic Black Metal, I would recommend this album. Otherwise you better go back listening to the newest Cradle Of Filth self-parody…