Cor Scorpii - Attergangar

circus_brimstone

Forest: Sold Out
Jul 5, 2003
5,154
13
38
41
Indiana
Cor Scorpii – Attergangar
Self-Released – December 29th, 2005
By Jason Jordan

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Cor Scorpii are comprised of three ex-Windir members, Righ (keyboards, clean vocals), Strom (lead guitars), and Steingrim (drums) to be exact. Three other blokes complete the line-up, and Attergangar is an impressive demo, even considering that, in numerous circles, Windir are regarded with the utmost reverence. And just like the other group boasting at least half an ex-Windir cast – Vreid – this entity prove they do indeed possess magical abilities as far as songwriting goes.

Unlike the more successful Vreid, however, Cor Scorpii are seemingly just getting underway. With 23 minutes of music spread amongst four songs, the compositions on tap are full-bodied, presenting a blend of melody and folk-esque atmosphere under the initial guise of pure symphonic black metal. But thankfully, there are no discernible strictures as far as what Attergangar chooses to include. “Fall of Man” has a few traditional components – the picking techniques and overall rhythms – though the clean vocal interjections and melodious leads will throw the purist off balance. The presence of synthesizers is detectable early on, and this particular demo relies on that specific instrument a lot. The end of “Fall of Man” is a prime example, as well as the introduction of “Transcendental Journey,” which plays cousin to similar symphonic excerpts found on early Dimmu Borgir and Old Man’s Child records. The keys call to mind the former, especially when Righ’s fingers sprint up and down the scale. At the same time, Cor Scorpii essentially weave a nature thread throughout their tunes, due to the synth-spawned ambiance, but aren’t afraid to bolster that with all-out cutthroat riffs. “Attergangar” has moments that remind me of Nokturnal Mortum – mostly in relation to the keyboard tones and patterns. “Nar Enden Er God,” the final number, is quite a melodic chunk of black metal, which is blessed with properties that can only be described as determined, driven, and purposeful.

So, Attergangar is a triumph for a 23-minute demo. I have no reservations declaring that Cor Scorpii are worth your time, especially if you’re a fan of Windir and/or Vreid. While their name won’t bring out the crowds just yet, marketing this sextet should be relatively easy. The person in the power position, though, is Steingrim – a frequenter of both Valfar-free mobs – but ultimately you’re the winner in the end.

7/10

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Official Cor Scorpii Website