Prepare to be entranced by the San Franciscans brand of black magic majesty!
Goddamn, these guys are good. It's hard to believe they are American, and from sunny California no less. They have a great authentic sound that would be right at home in the ice paths of frigid Norway. Traditional in style, but with a lot of dynamics and variety, Pale Chalice play narrative and longwinded black metal that is just expertly executed in every conceivable way.
The arrangements are full of surprises that make this sound fresh to the seasoned black metal fan. This is one of the coolest things I've stumbled upon in a while. Classics like Taake and Trelldom come to mind, perhaps Ofermod as well as but there is a more of a sexy modern edge to this. It has really clever transitions – flowing artfulness to the whole thing. There are dissonant riffs interwoven as well that modernize things a bit, in the Deathspell Omega or Virus vein. The sum is just undeniably good.
Pale Chalice, I hereby give you the official American Black Metal Crown… wear it with pride!
You are doing yourself a disservice if you sleep on this Immensely talented band. I have been fortune enough to wake up!
