I have started to notice that anything in my mailbox that hits me from The End Records / Jester Records camp is an excursion into something different and very artistic. It appears that some of the Norwegian black metal heads are going outside the confines of their somewhat stiff surroundings and are making various epiphanies and discoveries. In PECCATUM’s case it may be KATE BUSH, HIS NAME IS ALIVE , APHEX TWIN, classical music or DEAD CAN DANCE. Maybe or maybe not. What matters most is that the listener gets three killer cuts that keep getting played repeatedly until a full-length becomes an earphone full of pleasurable reality. To say this ‘lil EP leaves ‘em wanting more is almost too obvious. All three songs contain flawless female vocals with harmonized male singing at various points. You also get the black metal screaming vocals that come in when they are supposed to without being too forced. On the music tip we get the guitar, piano, bass, and trap drums mixed in with orchestral instruments and programmed drums. Unlike say, ULVER, there is not much for synths going on at the PECCATUM party. The techno aspect of their sound is used somewhat sparingly (a good thing). “For All Those Who Die” crescendos with a straight up punk sound with the black metal singing of all things dead. Off with their heads and on with the full length I say.

- Herring

OFFICIAL SITE: myspace.com/peccatum

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