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The Gauntlet: Old Man's Child |
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The blasphemous force OLD MAN'S CHILD started to rise in the summer of 1993 during a Norwegian night dimly lit by the northern midnight sun when guitarist/vocalist Galder (originally known as Grusom), guitarist Jardar and drummer Tjodalv decided to form a band dedicated to classic death metal. Soon they discovered their mutual love for extreme black metal, and when ex-Dimmu Borgir bassist Brynjard Tristan joined their new musical direction was clear -- a devastating combination of classic thrash material mixed with intense death metal and symphonic black metal. In November of 1994 the band entered the studio to record their infamous 5-song demo, which not only gained the attention of Hot Records, but also took the black metal world by storm even though it wasn't well promoted. Before they released their classic debut album Born Of The Flickering, the revolving door for musicians started turning, first with Tristan being replaced by Minas Tirith's bassist Gonde prior to the album's recording and Tjodalv leaving the band just after the studio session to fully concentrate on his duties with Dimmu Borgir. Nevertheless, Born Of The Flickering's evil mystique and raw sound proved to have a huge impact on the exploding black metal scene. When the album was released word traveled fast and soon the band's name was internationally known. In 1996, after finding new drummer Tony, OLD MAN'S CHILD decided to re-release their first demo as an MCD entitled In The Shades Of Life. Around the same time Century Media noticed their potential and a re-release of Born Of The Flickering in a Digipak with new artwork was the first result of the new cooperation. Approximately a year later, in fall of 1997, the black metal community raved about OMC's second album The Pagan Prosperity. Still, as Gonde and Tony were committed to other projects, Galder recruited ex-Tulus member Sarke on drums and Blodstrup on bass, and with the new line-up OLD MAN'S CHILD conquered Europe during a tour with labelmates Rotting Christ and Sacramentum in September 1997. Upon returning Galder immediately started working on his next album, curiously-titled Ill-Natured Spiritual Invasion, which starred Gene Hoglan (Dark Angel, Death, Strapping Young Lad...) on drums and was recorded in Sweden's famous Sunlight Studios with engineer guru Tomas Skogsberg (Entombed, Dismember). With Hoglan's brilliant playing matching Galder's creative skills, the thrashier Ill-Natured... upped the ante once again for OMC, and now the band had finally attained the recognition and exposure they deserved. For his new masterpiece, Revelation 666: The Curse Of Damnation, Galder changed his approach and the way he would like OMC to be seen. He remembered and collected some of his old bandmates to form the more primitive essence of OLD MAN'S CHILD; original drummer Tjodalv (now out of Dimmu Borgir) returned as a guest to give an imposing black metal feel on four of the eight tracks, while guitarist Jardar also rejoined the line-up (Galder noticed that working with his longtime friends had always created the best and darkest unholy visions). Revelation 666... is explained simply, the classic force and dominance of OLD MAN'S CHILD is combined with fresh input by bassist Memnoch and drummer Grimar (who played on the other 4 new tracks). The two have already impressed fans with their technical and tight skills on OLD MAN'S CHILD's last tour with Mystic Circle, Sacramentum, Runemagick and Eisregen in February 1999. Again the multi-talented Galder composed all music himself, but unlike on the previous Ill-Natured Spiritual Invasion he worked with a real band who added some of their own ideas. Revelation 666... is a darker and less thrash-oriented release for OMC, and the band now poses a larger threat to the world's leading black/death acts. The broad use of keyboards and atmospheric nuances add darker and more serious elements to OMC's sound, and the outcome is as inviting as it is sinister. The icing on the cake was added by Peter Tägtgren who engineered Revelation 666... and co-produced it with Galder in his famous Abyss Studio in November 1999 where he already helped to create some of the most important albums from bands like Dimmu Borgir, Hypocrisy, Immortal and Edge Of Sanity. All creativity was shared in the end to form an album that will surprise the world with some of the fastest and most brutal drumming, the catchiest melodies and sharpest guitars, and some of the best songwriting the scene has had in a while. Take it from Peter Tägtgren himself, "Dimmu Borgir watch out!"
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