The CD cover sets the standard for the music on this five song disc. You can see what seems to be a carbonised fist bound by barbed wire. This makes clear that this isn't the next Britney Spears album, just to name a pop artist. Stronghold is a Norwegian one man band. Mastermind is Eirik Hellem Bø who played most instruments on this album (guitars, bass, drums) and he also did the vocals. Additional keyboards were done by Kjartan Vestvik. Musically Stronghold is black metal mixed with dark and doom metal. The doom elements remind me of Ashen Mortality but the production is shrill, giving it a winter-like feel. The dark and black metal elements sound much like Antestor with the vocals being distant, more growling than hissing/shrieking. The songwriting is good, though not really progressive. The musicianship is fairly good and Bø succeeds in creating a dark atmosphere. The quality sound wise isn't fully satisfying though, but definitely not bad.
Similar sounding releases
1998AntestorThe Return of the Black Death
2002SorrowstormCaverns of Grief
1996EmperorIn the Nightside Eclipse
2002SlechtvalkThe War That Plagues The Land
2005IlluminandiThe Beginning...
2000SanctificaSpirit Of Purity
