An avant-garde metal supergroup from Norway, Age of Silence collects the talents of Borknagar keyboardist Lars A. Nedland (here acting as vocalist and calling himself Lazare), By Pale Light guitarists Joacim Solheim (here called Extant) and Helge K. Haugen (here Kobbergaard), Khold bassist Lars Eric Si (here Eikind), Winds' keyboard player Andy Winter, and legendary Mayhem drummer Hellhamer. Phew! And despite their common roots in the local black metal scene, their first collaborative effort, 2004's Acceleration follows no linear path in melding rock, classical, progressive, and metallic styles in very unusual and unorthodox combinations. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia