Cost: 99¢
Black Mark was responsible for some rather lame modern stuff in the '90s (Soulquake System probably being the biggest offender), but with two members in Mercyful Fate shirts here I wasn't terribly worried. Don't recall if I had any particular musical expectations when buying this.
Even though the core of the music is somewhat groovy thrash, I hear lots of death metal sensibilities in the guitarwork (not a big surprise considering the DM background of several members). While I can easily see many of the riffs being used in death metal songs, the band never actually crosses into being actual DM or even death/thrash. The last few tracks are more straightforward thrash in a contemporary late '90s style--some grooviness, but nothing to an annoying degree.
The main vocals are gruff, but thankfully they're not aggro/toughtalk, nor are they full on DM-style vox. The vocalist also often uses a deep, semi-operatic style which immediately brings to mind a less accomplished Messiah Marcolin. It is interesting that when they're used, I get an immediate mournful Candlemass vibe, even though there's nothing particularly doomy about the guitar tone or music as a whole.
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