Minor-league participants in the always teeming Norwegian black metal movement, Enthral emerged in 1995 from the town of Sunndalsøra, but it was only a couple of years later, after relocating to Oslo, that founding drummer/vocalist Kjetil Hektoen and guitarist Gunnhild Bratset encountered bassist Martin Rafoss, and recorded their debut album, Prophecies of the Dying. Marked by both the usual black metal devices (extreme speeds, satanic topics), and somewhat more atypical elements of gothic, atmospheric, and doom origin, the album featured guest vocals from Ingrid Skretting and paved the way for a similar second opus in 1998's The Mirror's Opposite End (featuring an extended lineup of Skretting, second guitarist Espen Simonsen, and former Dimmu Borgir keyboardist Stian Aarstad). Unfortunately, neither gained much recognition beyond the deepest underground circles (tiny independent label Hot being partly to blame), and Enthral would wait until 2003 before recording their next album, Subterranean Movement. Hektoen was subsequently heard playing on Crest of Darkness's 2004 album, Evil Knows Evil, leaving some doubt about Enthral's future prospects. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia