Thralldom

Thralldom is a NYC-based black metal band with a lot of noise and ambient elements and occult thematology. What sets them apart from run-of-the-mill BM is their very noisy approach which has influences from Swans, Godflesh and paranoid riffs which avoid the typical Norwegian-style tremolo riffing. Responsible for this are Jaldagar on drums and Killusion (Ryan Lipynsky) on guitar and vocals, who is the frontman of dark sludge band Unearthly Trance, whose debut Season of Seance, Science of Silence is one of my all-time favorite doom/sludge albums. Below is part of their discography, minus their EPs and their reunion cd Time Will Bend Into Horror which I didn't really like.
  
2002 - A Murderous Magus Of The Morphogenetic Grid 7" (Regimental Records)



Lo-fi black/doom metal with cool Darkthrone/punk riffs.

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2003 - Beast Eye Opened To The Sky LP (Parasitic Records)



 Demented, radioactive noisy evil with great off-kilter guitar work and vocals.

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2005 - The Seven Heads of The Lion Serpent 7" (Deathstrike Records)



 Yo, isn't that Celtic Frost's heptagram? The Celtic Frost references doesn't stop there as the first track is a very groovy and danceable Celtic Frost-meets-Motorhead-meets Darkthrone anthem. The two other tracks are equally great.

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 2005 - Black Sun Resistance LP (Profound Lore Records)

 

More occult metal awesomeness, with more 80's metal influences like Bathory, Hellhammer and Sarcofago, but with great atmospheric guitar work similar to Godflesh and motorik rhythms.

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2006 - A Shaman Steering The Vessel of Vastness cd (Profound Lore Records)

The last Thralldom before their break-up was their most experimental but also their heavier. Thick death/black riffs mix with chaotic drums/guitar improvisations and battle with misanthropic noise and ambient moments of unnerving calm. Majestic. 2006 cd on Profound Lore Records.

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