Pantheon-I - 'Worlds I Create'

Former 1349 guitarist Tjalve (Andre Kvebak) goes for the jugular on both the extreme and visceral levels with Pantheon I’s third album Worlds I Create.

Continuing to blaspheme and badger the Christian world in more grandiose measures than his postmen from Hell associates in 1349, Andre Kvebak, known to the black metal underground as Tjalve, returns for a third foray into his demented airs of dark passion within Pantheon I. On Worlds I Create, Kvebak is rejoined by 1349 bassist Seidemann in addition to John Sagstad (guitars), Mads G (drums) and Live Julianne Kostol (cello).

Layered with rousing cello weaves, Emperor-like chaos swirls and draping acoustica atop the thrall of the opening number “Myself Above All,” Kvebak and Pantheon I take more than seven minutes to reintroduce themselves, but what a hell of a preface! Encircling Ihsahn’s expanded trenches both in Emperor and his solo capacity on “Ascending,” Kvebak branches out with musical and vocal splendor (courtesy of Katatonia’s Jonas Renske) in veins-cutting alms to Lucifer. Such disturbing dankness shouldn’t be this—excuse the anti-pun here—divine, but “Ascending” is unsettlingly gorgeous atop its domestic harshness, as is, for that matter, “The Last Stand.”

“Burn the Cross” doesn’t pussyfoot with its intentions however it does probe menacingly for almost four minutes before escalating in exquisite terror. “Bannlyst” sends a minute and a half worth of shredding guitar currents into the listener’s ears before stamping a steady throb filled with Julianne Kosto’s disarming mood weaves, even as the song picks up speed in the middle stanza.

The Wanderer and His Shadow from 2007 was an eyebrow-raising endeavor for Pantheon I, while Worlds I Create is utterly impressive on a musicianship scale. Even if you don’t see eye-to-eye with Andre Kvebak’s principles, Worlds I Create is near par excellence extreme experimentalism which is more than welcome as black metal finds itself cornered into a wall of stagnancy.