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CD: Immortal - Damned In Black	Released: 2000
Reviewed By: Gautham Khandige (deathrider)	Rating: (3.5/5)

Tracklist:
1. Triumph
2. Wrath From Above
3. Against The Tide
4. My Dimension
5. The Darkness That Embrace Me
6. In Our Mystic Visions Blest
7. Damned In Black

Immortal happens to be one of my favourite extreme metal bands today. I have enjoyed almost all their albums immensely and Damned In Black is no different. Another crushing solid album from this band and a particularly impressive album considering that it follows up the rather boring At The Heart Of Winter.

The most striking aspect of this album is the sound. Produced by Peter Tagtren of the (in) famous Abyss Studios, the sound is clear, striking and very heavy. Immortal's music too has seemingly evolved. From the raw primitive black metal of their debut to the cold atmospheric Blizzard Beasts, Immortal have always been a band on the move. With Damned In Black, Immortal embrace a more traditional thrash metal sound into their compositions. With the heavy production this works quite well.

The album opens with Triumph and it is soon apparent that Immortal have sacrificed some of the atmosphere of earlier albums for a more full-bodied and heavy approach to song writing. Then again, this is Immortal and whatever the band does, it does well. Damned In Black is a fine album and songs like Against The Tide and The Darkness That Embrace Me ensure that some of the old Immortal magic is retained.

Immortal have turned out a fine album with Damned In Black but in the overall perspective of the Immortal discography, Damned In Black is not particularly essential.