Influenced by the likes of Metallica and Pink Floyd, The Black League have set out to create depressive landscapes of doom style metal, and the music they bring forth is well worth checking into.Combining both aggressive passages and dreamy, hypnotic interludes, The Black League are very up to challenging metal conventions.Ichor is adventurous music, and could be compared favorably to their obvious influences.Tunes like "Doomswatcher", "Goin’ To Hell", "Avalon", and "Deep Waters", are bound to be crowd pleasers."Ozymandias" is a chilling composition with lyrics taken from the famed P.B. Shelley poem written in 1817.My personal favorite wuold have to be "We Die Alone".I love that song....The musicianship found within The Black League is outstanding while vocalist Taneli Jarva delivers the lyrics with a dark ferocity.Yet another promising import from Finland, Ichor by The Black League is a compelling work of musical art that must be heard all the way through to be truly appreciated.Compelling and insightful, it’s obvious that Nuclear Blast have yet another winner on their hands!

This review is credited to:
Death_Explosion

When vocalist/bassist Taneli Jarva left Sentenced in 1996, shortly after the Love And Death E.P., it left fans of "The Northernmost Killers" with an empty and discouraging feeling. How could they possibly replace such a frontman? What would Taneli do next? Would he remain bass player for Impaled Nazarene? While Sentenced would carry on with Ville Laihiala, Taneli seemed to had vanished off the face of the Earth. Surley such a talented vocalist/bassist/lyricist would continue with a new project....and so it would be nearly half a decade after his disappearing act. Jarva quietly assembled the pieces of his new revolution...The Black League was born. The cast of characters is made up of Sir Luttinen (formerly of Impaled Nazarene) on drums and keyboards, Florida (from Legenda) on bass, and Maike Valanne and Alexi Ranata on guitars, but of the most significance here is no doubt the return of Jarva, who has always possessed one of the most unique vocal approaches to be heard, not to mention one of the best lyric writers in Metal.

Musically, The Black League is a bit like what you would expect the follow up to Sentenced's AMOK to sound like had Jarva remained with the band. This is essentially heavy and dark, rocking Metal, with emphasis on the heavy and dark aspects, a marriage of Motorhead and Fields Of The Nephilim. Lots of solos throughout the songs, and not meaningless soloing either. These solos belong here and Ichor would not be the same without them. A bluesy atmosphere also runs through the album, most evident in the intro; "Doomwatcher", which bleeds right into the absolutely storming "One Colour Black", and that old familiar voice of Mr. Jarva...rough and gravely yet strangely tuneful all the same. "Deep Waters" is a slower, more melodic and atmospheric song with a strong blues foundation that ends with a serene atmosphere. "Goin To Hell", We Die Alone" and "Blood Of The Gods" are all out Rock N Roll stormers, the latter gets my vote for best song on the album and one of the best I've heard this year. It's the kind of song that makes you say to yourself..."Man, I've got to see this band live". Great stuff. "Ecce Homo!" reminds me the most of Sentenced, mainly during the chorus line. "Ozymandis" is a strange, almost Middle Easternish, tune with Jarva cryptically voicing the poem of the same name written by P.B. Shelley in 1817. The Black League get beautiful on "The Everlasting - Pt.2", piano melody in the background and some great acoustic guitar with Taneli gravely whispering ..."The Everlasting...I've found it in you". A truly beautiful piece of music. "Night On Earth" is one of the more atmospheric tunes on offer, yet absolutely rocking at the end...taking the listener a bit by surprise.

At 13 songs, Ichor possesses a couple of songs that may not make as big an impact as the majority of the album, but this is without doubt one of my personal favorites of the year 2000 and a fine return of one of Metal's most charismatic and talented songwriters/musicians. Beautifully packaged in shades of grey and dark images and wonderfully produced by Jarva, Ichor could appeal to fans of any genre, containing heaviness, melody, atmosphere, and most importantly, some really great songs.

This review is credited to:
palewake