Burning Black Webzine
http://www.burningblack.net/Valhom_review.htm
(written by AP)
Valhom "Desolation"

This album is the second full length Cd of this US Black Metal band, formed back in ‘99 by Lord Temptation, who has become the only stable member of the band (which have never being more than a duo). Musically Valhom delivers a highly intricate and complex Black Metal, with some traces of bands such Emperor and Tartaros in the drowned keyboards melodies and chaotic fast passages in the finest vein of Immortal and Dissection. The blurry and electric guitar riffs drive the whole music through intricate structures, adorned by the atmospheric keyboards which add an almost symphonic aura, but never becoming protagonist, always quite buried under the almost impenetrable wall of darkness created by the tight drumming and the intense riffing. The vocal work is highly remarkable, with an extreme and raspy tone adds, probably, the rawest element to the equation. The music of Valhom is much more than the sum of its elements, the atmospheres created by the whole instrumentation are just amazing. Incidental effects decorates the apocalyptic panorama, like some gloomy, clean almost lyrical female voices that makes its appearance here and there, being its most remarkable interlude (and at the same time an incredibly simple one) at the 6th track “Glory an Death”… The production of this album is pretty good, with a strong and powerful sound improving even more the musicianship of Valhom… I really don’t know what else to say… “Desolation” is an incredibly work; full of complexity, intricate structures and chaotic, hellish and turbulent atmospheres, it conjugates the savagery of traditional Scandinavian Black Metal with the intelligence of modern Black Metal. So, if you enjoy the mentioned bands, especially the turbulent atmospheres of Emperor and Tartaros, this album will easily fit in your collection.

Pull The Chain Webzine
http://www.pullthechain.be/
(written by Patricia)
Valhom "Desolation"

«Desolation» is my first contact with the American (Chicago based) Valhom and judging from the album art, the pics and the label they are on it, it’s quite obvious they play old school European style black metal. Fortunately, Lord Temptation and Lord Deception have derived most of their musical style from the old Dissection albums and made a rather good copy of guitar axed melodic black metal. «Desolation» is even more ‘depressive’ in atmosphere than the new Dissection album which flattered to deceive at times. The song writing is interesting and Valhom capture the right feeling for this style, playing some melodic black songs that need several careful listens. Some themes may sound too repetitive and you can at times get lost in the music but generally there is enough variation within the songs to stop this happening to often. I really like the vocal works delivered throughout «Desolation», Lord Temptation’ vocal approach is at first nothing special but it not only suits the musical direction very well, it also grows on you after two or three listens. The downside to this album would be the lack of real identity but it’s absolutely no major problem as «Desolation» features a high entertaining value.

The Metal Crypt (Rating 4 / 5)
http://www.metalcrypt.com/pages/reviews.php?revid=2313
(written by Sargon the Terrible)
Valhom "Desolation"

I'm glad I gave this album time, as I like it much better than I did the first spin I gave it. Valhom are a pretty underground band from the US metal Mecca: Chicago, and this is actually their second full-length album. As far as I know they are not signed to a real label, so a second release so soon is an impressive enough accomplishment. Valhom play Black Metal, with a stylistic thrust somewhere between early Emperor and maybe Dissection. The vocals especially remind me of Jon Notveidt with that almost sharp raspy tone. At first, I thought this was a rather featureless album of generic Black Metal, but I kept listening, because something about it tugged at me. You have to give "Desolation" some time to sink in, as this is really very cool melodic BM, but it is not accessible, and it will take some time before you start to really get the good stuff: the churning assault of "Damnation Seed", the shaded harmonies of "Thy Blood Paints The Sky", and the epic closer "Infernal Legions". The only complaints I have are a certain mushiness to the guitar recording, so that you hear the notes, but you don't hear the strings actually being hit – you know the kind of sound I mean? I like to hear those frigging strings being shredded, and when it sounds like the strings are just humming while the frets get throttled – it's just not as cool to me. Also, despite the hidden joys of this album, there are places where Valhom just go on too long, and pad out the songs by repeating riffs too many times. Overall, this is a really enjoyable Black Metal slab that just takes a few more listens to really appreciate. Valhom are certainly a band to keep an eye on, as with a slightly meaner, more upfront guitar sound and some minor tightening of their songwriting, they could produce a real underground classic next time around, but that doesn't mean fans of true Black Metal should miss this one.

German Webzine Metal District (Rating 7 / 10)
http://www.metal-district.de/ugreview.php?ID=64
(Translation by TarotsMyst)
Valhom "Satan's Castle"

Who would have thought it - America, the country of unfettered impulses, famous for import hits like Britney (fuckin') Spears, the Backstreet Idiots, and many other worthless wackos, for once has tried something quite different. While all the people that live in the puritanical regions of the country really work themselves into an incredible state over a "Ooops! ... I did it again", it nevertheless appears that settlers from the highlands of Norway had arrived in other regions of the country during the last century, and whose descendants now for their part blaspheme as they always have done and create the thing that they're best at: "BLACK METAL". So here we have VALHOM, true to the motto, that in a country where so much idiocy and apathy reigns, there really must be some bright spots that exist as well (wait a moment, hmm, that is definitely open to interpretation, whether one should really talk about bright spots in this case, ha ha). With an agreeably brutal force these newly-appeared American black metallers storm into action, as anyone can easily convince themselves by hearing their "Satan's Castle" album. The disc consists of 5 tracks and a playing time of 26 minutes. Technically-speaking one has to mention that the vocals are a little bit too much in the foreground. It also mostly sounds as if the frontman has swallowed a toilet brush and is trying now to fetch it out, meanwhile in the background the instruments are clanging away comfortably muffled. Besides all this, the singer (can one really call him that?) manages most of the time to not stay in time with the instruments, and during all the speed he really sounds like as if he were trying to make an ill-fated attempt to breathe, as if he were simultaneously about to keel over. (Satan would be pleased *s*). Despite these facts, you can't really grumble too much, because the songs are well thought out. Even though there's really nothing new here, regardless all the songs are quite good, however I especially like tracks 3 and 5. Track 3 because of its beginning, which creates a really nice atmosphere, with which you can really plunge away into mystical worlds. Track 5 is really the shocker song, which gives you goose-pimples, and which fans of Britney should not attempt to listen to in the darkness. Just like Track 3 it begins with a synthesizer and ends up climaxing with brutal and ripping force. I think this track is the most technically rich. With all of its flaws, I think the CD is still worth 7 points, alone for the facts that the songs are good, the band comes from America, and I am I certain that I couldn't grunt any better myself. If I've perked your interest and you are a sworn black metaller, then I can do nothing but recommend this CD. Simply contact Lord Temptation at the Valhom website.