Blackhour hail from Islamabad, Pakistan, and “Age of War” is their debut album. It appears that there is a fledgling heavy metal scene in that country, and one can only admire the power and confidence with which these young guys make themselves heard. The bare bones production is probably as good as it gets in Islamabad. It has, however, the pleasant side effect of invoking nostalgia for early eighties metal records which didn’t have much better sound quality.

The Eastern music influences on Blackhour’s guitar riffs are the most interesting aspect of their music. You can hear this on the title track and “Subliminal Control,” for example. Iron Maiden and others included such influences in their songs from the mid-eighties onward as well. While that was kind of exotic in those bands, here it is authentic. I may be wrong in this, but it sounds like Blackhour employ a drum machine for the most part. On the one hand this brings some neat associations with the viking metal of Bathory with it, on the other hand it sounds a bit lifeless at times. Some of the songs could have been arranged better. But, you feel the honest outrage of the singer, and the band’s power is undeniable. “Crucifix” reaches the intensity of mid-eighties Iron Maiden epics. When Blackhour’s next release will be more refined, this should definitely kick some serious ass.

by artistxite