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Track Listing: Devil's Harlot Post Modern Sadist Invoker Perpetual Night Ghosting Acts of Sin Krigsatte Faner Hill Norge

"The Underworld Regime," the first release from black-metal super group Ov Hell is brutal, terrifying, and absolutely intense. Fronted by Shagrath of "Dimmu Borgir" fame, this album bleeds black and screams pure f***ing evil. The band is completed by King Ov Hell(Gorgoroth) on bass, Ice Dale(Enslaved) on guitar, Frost(Satyricon) on drums, and Teloch(God Seed) on guitar.

The album opens with "Devils Harlot" without any warning or introduction. It begins like a punch to the jaw with fast double pedal drumming, heavy guitar work and Shagrath's chilling guttural vocals. This song is fast, brutal, and in your face. Raw, brooding, pouring over with pure hatred and evil. Towards the end of the song, it goes into what I can only describe as a "black metal war march" complete with vocals that sound like a war-lord directing his minions into battle. The musicianship on this track is perfectly orchestrated in true extreme black metal fashion. Frost's drumming really shines through on this track, as does Ice Dale and Teloch's guitar playing.

The next track up is "Post Modern Sadist" which opens with a siren singing "Hallelujah" and a girl laughing and saying "Fuck me with a crucifix". That right there was enough to sell me! All naughtiness aside, this track is badass. It opens up slowly and works into a glorious epic that almost sounds like Dimmu Borgir's "The Chosen Legacy". The track is a bit slower than the first, but with good reason. The musicianship is amazing on this track, although with a running time of 4:56 seconds, with a minute's worth of intro, it falls a bit short. Nevertheless, everyone put forth their best effort on it. What stands out to me is the guitar work on it. Slow, but brutal. Frost's drumming, of course, is amazing, and King's bass is right on par with everything, and of course, Shagrath's vocals never cease to amaze me. Truly a glorious track.

The album is topped off with one last epic entitled "Hill Norge" which opens with sounds I really can't describeÉOne of the sounds reminds me of a monster screaming. The instrumentals begin with Shagrath speaking in Norwegian, and then growling along with the music. This song is hard, heavy, fast, and brutal. It takes men of amazing talent to play black metal of this caliber, and I believe that Ov Hell really found the perfect formula. Ice Dale and Teloch's guitar work on this track is absolutely superb, as is King's bass. Shagrath's vocals and Frost's drums really tie everything together in a neat, bloody little package. Towards the two minute mark, the song takes a turn into something much heavier. Frost beings to drum a bit faster, the guitars get shot with a burst of energy, and everything becomes much more brutal. This track is truly a great way to end a great album.

I have a feeling that we'll be seeing a lot more from "Ov Hell". A black metal super-group of this magnitude only comes along once inÉwell, this is the first time I've ever actually seen one. These guys have released only one album and are already at the top of their game. If you're a black metal fan, new, or old, you'll appreciate this glorious coming together of black metal greats.

To buy the CD and for more information, please visit the band's official myspace.