Blizzard Beasts, Immortal’s fourth album, should be chalked up as a transitional album in the band’s mighty career, being the last to feature guitarist and founding member Demonaz (he quit after a bout with tendonitis); bassist/vocalist Abbath would take over six-string and songwriting duties, ultimately leading the band out of blastbeat hell and across more broad-scoped, epic terrain. Still, the record is brilliant when compared to similar Norwegian black metal acts mired in ludicrous “necro” aesthetics. “Nebular Ravens Winter,” “Suns That Sank Below,” and “Frostdemonstorm” offer a few decent riffs and solid arrangements, and six-minute epic “Mountains of Might” leans toward the black metal-by-way-of-German-thrash genius of subsequent albums. – John Serba