Review by Krys on August 19, 2003.

After the break-up of Emperor, thousands of fans eagerly awaited any news from the Samoth and Trym camp hoping for any sort of continuation of this now legendary act. In 2001, Zyklon was the answer and became one of the most talked about underground bands on the planet. Parading an impressive mix of black and death metal, our two ex-members of Emperor teamed up with Destructhor (Myrkskog) and Daemon (Limbonic Art) unleashing their Zyklonic musical vision named "World ov Worms".

Two years after this highly acclaimed release the team returns with not just their most convincing work to date but with an album so complete and powerful that you will wet your bed for the next month straight while being let gasping for air in disbelief and excitement after each listen. With "Aeon" Zyklon not only proved its place in the top league of today's heavy hitters but made a strong mark that it's here to stay and ready to challenge anyone for the crown.

For those unfamiliar with their sound, the simplest way to describe it is as a hybrid between Morbid Angel and Emperor. But this description is as incomplete as your teeth would be when your jaw hits the floor shattering them. Need a proof? Listen to 'The Prophetic Method' and embrace fantastic licks harking Bay Area thrash at its best.

The guitar team of Samoth and Destructhor quickly is becoming one of the best axe duos of today's scene, perfectly complementing each other's skills. At times they are highly technical, but the obvious focus is on quality and creativity in the compositions. The result will blow you away not because of the speed but because of intelligent use of their craft in creating a cold and brutal atmosphere. That's right, atmosphere is the most noticeable change since their debut. An array of mid-tempo sections thunders around a variety of Trym rhythms and the sinister vocals of new member Secthdamon. Don't be alarmed though, Trym still dishes out plenty of whoop-ass by varying his drumming style the overall feel of the album comes as even more brutal and aggressive than "World ov Worms".

There's really nothing on "Aeon" that I can complain about. Every aspect is taken to the highest level and it just makes me wonder how the hell they can top this. Even the mic/bass debut of Secthdamon strikes as the best fit for this band. He uses every vocal style he has in his arsenal and does damn good job with it. Mothers hold your children, the storm is on the horizon and it's unstoppable.

Bottom Line: With the bar set so high "Aeon" not only will it be a challenge for any band to surpass but next time Zyklon themselves might be forced to call for reinforcements. For now though, let's enjoy this essential destruction tool of 2003 and leave this daunting task to unlimited creativity of Zyklon members.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 10
Atmosphere: 9
Production: 10
Originality: 8
Overall: 10

Rating: 9.4 out of 10

Review by Felix on March 6, 2021.

I am seeking for The Stone's full-length from the year 2007 ("Неке Ране Крваре Вечно") for several months, but every mail order fails to deliver this seemingly attractive album. Fortunately, the world is full of placebos, just think of rubber dolls or tofu sausages. Therefore, I decided to buy this split 7" in order to relieve the pain. And even if I am not familiar with inflatable sex partners or vegetarian hot dogs, I dare to say that this vinyl is a good substitute for the untraceable album.

The guys from the Serbian underground present a coherent number with an erratic main riff and mighty breaks that do not damage its flow. 'Antiutopija' heralds the ideology of honest black metal in a mid-harsh manner. Its clearly defined sound is perhaps a problem for some oh so trve pvrists who sit in their children's room and play computer games, but everybody else will enjoy the high pressure of the mix. It contributes to the fact that the lively track is constantly in motion. As a result, the guys avoid any kind of boring sequences successfully. If this double bass driven piece indicates the average strength of their compositions, I have to take a deep dive into the discography of The Stone.

I do not really know the full-lengths of Isvind that they have released since their comeback, but their early works did not fully convince me. Nevertheless, their song for this Norwegian-Serbian collaboration stands up to the critical scrutiny of sceptical guys like me. Its almost hypnotizing guitars contrast with the rumbling drums and the malicious vocals, before the cleverly designed piece attacks in a more furious way. Without stylistic experiments and in accordance with The Stone, the Scandinavians respect the tried and tested agenda of black metal. The tempo changes are not an end in itself, they create a gripping flow. Only the brief solo confuses me a little bit, but it also does not hurt the quality of 'Opplagt Krass'.

The collaboration makes sense in view of the very similar approach of both bands. I cannot identify significant differences in terms of anger, complexity and atmosphere. Norway and Serbia march shoulder to shoulder and, to cap it all, both songs also benefit from a suitable production. Thus, this split unites the motherland of the second wave with a still underdeveloped country in a successful manner. With that said, I keep on looking for "Неке Ране Крваре Вечно".

Rating: 7.8 out of 10