FUIL NA SEANCHOILLE – HUNGER (Tour De Garde)

I get a bit pissed off with tapes sometimes and find myself thinking that perhaps I’ll stop buying them. Of the various avenues open to mankind of listening to music, cassette is definitely the least convenient. Generally, also the shittiest-sounding, least versatile and ugliest-looking, too. A good experience like ‘Hunger’ can quickly remove all doubts and misgivings, however.

In stark contrast to many other tapes, which are often mere demos and can include only a handful of songs, ‘Hunger’ is a proper full-length in every respect and the quality of music on display here is absolutely top-notch. I’ve actually had this album in my collection for quite some time but have only got around to listening to it properly (pissed off with tapes…) these past couple of weeks. I have to say, this is an immense volume of work.

Raw, grim underground Black Metal with an immense, overwhelming sense of darkness and some majestic ambient passages is the order of the day. The sound is truly fantastic for an analogue release and, all in all, Fuil Na Seanchoille proves here that the self-titled vinyl demo collection was no fluke. This is even better. Limited to 200 units, however, and not exactly new, so you might have to dig around a little to bag a copy.

Resist the urge to pay some cunt over the odds, though (even if it is worth it) – a reissue is bound to follow at some stage. Or maybe a CD or vinyl edition. This album is simply too good to disappear into complete obscurity.

Evilometer: 666/666