IMMORTAL: All Shall Fall

Produced by Peter Tägtgren
Released: September 25



There’s little doubt that this is the most anticipated comeback album of the year, and there’s none but a few who could honestly say they’d be that disappointed by it. While Immortal may have been taking the piss out of themselves now for a long time, it’s also clear that they’ve always been deadly serious about the music itself. The evidence list for this begins with the daunting and impressive packaging of All Shall Fall that borrows from Beyond the Gates by Possessed (a band to whom all groups like this pay a debt) and continues with Demonaz’ detailed lyrics and the blasting soundtrack the band provides them.

In short, Immortal may look like cartoon characters with their crazy full-face make-up and ridiculous spiky attire, but they sound every bit like furious warrior demons at the vanguard of Hell’s legions. There’s a sophistication and a skill inherent in their ferocious dark black thrash attack that belies their clownish appearance and Peter Tägtgren’s production enhances the feeling of cold, methodical bitterness, the aesthetics of pure misanthropic destruction.
Indeed, the clinical sound is what helps give All Shall Fall its immense power, turning what would still be a good track like the riff-infested “The Rise of Darkness” into a thing of pure menace. There is unquestionably something of a groove apparent thanks to the audible thump of Appolyon’s bass and Immortal has also put a heavy emphasis on dynamics here too as the mid-paced sections contrast drastically with the speedier parts when Horgh gets steam up. The clean passages in the likes of “Norden on Fire” –the closest they get to their usual Bathory-worship—enhance the atmosphere of malevolence that only a nasal grunt like Abbath’s can help create. It should also be noted that his lead guitar work on here is possibly his best yet.

While All Shall Fall has its thrashier tracks, it also has its frosty epics, closing with the immense “Unearthly Kingdom”, a grim combination of slow, pounding riffs and sudden bursts of speed; it almost sounds sad, which seems like a strange thing to say about Immortal but it fits the bill here.

Not everyone will be happy, but All Shall Fall is a strong album that bridges some of the gaps between Immortal’s early style and their later phase without really changing anything very much. It’s not a total masterpiece, but it could hardly be described as just another comeback either.

1. All Shall Fall
2. The Rise of Darkness
3. Hordes to War
4. Norden on Fire
5. Arctic Swarm
6. Mount North
7. Unearthly Kingdom

Rating: 85%