At only 24 minutes ARTISIAN’s first ‘album,’ if it can so be called, contains 11 tracks of sharp, poignant Black Metal. Like MARDUK before they became a hyper-speed bulldozer, “Lament For The Eternal Frost” is an album born from hatred that contains simple effective rhythms and more than enough interesting differences to make the songs seem brimming with ideas despite their meagre length.

Many of the riffs are quite unusual for Black Metal, still rather militant and aggressive, but with a certain unique quality. Unfortunately some are rather weak and go against rather than accentuate the concept. Where it works there are moments of brilliance, it’s just a pity they aren’t a little more frequent.

Despite the many throw-away riffs, this is a solid debut with a very harsh atmosphere, yet a better, or rather more effective, production would have made the material more impacting. Indeed, with an ANTAEUS sound this would have been a lot more primal and savage as it has that same atmospheric feel, albeit not just as intense.

“Lament For The Eternal Frost” is a decent first offering that has much of interest in a style dominated by mediocrity. The concept is clearly developed but the band could do with better honing the material, to a standard they have proved capable of achieving, for the duration of an entire release. (Online October 3, 2006)