Metal Storm logo
Satyricon - Satyricon review



Reviewer:
8.7

246 users:
7.44
Band: Satyricon
Album: Satyricon
Release date: September 2013


01. Voice Of Shadows
02. Tro Og Kraft
03. Our World, It Rumbles Tonight
04. Nocturnal Flare
05. Phoenix
06. Walker Upon The Wind
07. Nekrohaven
08. Ageless Northern Spirit
09. The Infinity Of Time And Space
10. Natt
11. Phoenix [recording session rough mix] [digipak bonus]
12. Our World, It Rumbles Tonight [Deeper Low mix] [digipak bonus]
13. Natt [Wet mix] [digipak bonus]

To the lovers of the black metal style, you may end up hearing absolute noise (kidding). Undoubtedly, moving away from black metal elements in Norway is an unforgivable sin. But Satyricon's black metal work is so strong that they cannot be missed anywhere.

The band's eighth studio album is, bucking the trends of the band's classic albums, different from Norwegian black metal. The album is made within the general framework of black metal, yes, but with more diversity in guitar-playing techniques, and generally with a slower, more intuitive rhythm and decent audio quality. The guitar solos are heavier and almost all in one category, and the riffs do not play a key role on this album.

In fact, this album is more a masterpiece of drumming than of guitar playing. Frost's full-fledged personality and maturity can clearly be heard in his drumming on this album. The drums have been played with a variety of techniques, in such a way that they become the cornerstone of all rhythms in all the songs, and Satyricon is about Frost's drumming as much as black metal in the known Satyricon style, a la Nemesis Divina.

But in this album, what has the most major role beyond the drums is the guitar playing. The guitar solos at the beginning of each songs echo the solos of ancient, traditional Norwegian music and, of course, the corresponding beliefs. It turns out that, while it's true the group's original black metal sound has changed, the line of thought and the content of their albums has not; they still remain committed to the traditions and ancient gods of Norway.

The album's vocals, however, do not always bring back the scary, scratchy screams. What you hear instead coming to the ears of a black metal freak is the voice of a neo-Viking man, a man looking for ancient myths in the trees of the ancient forests, expressing grief and sorrow. The album's best track, "Phoenix," most innovatively uses this guest vocalist, Sivert Høyem from the now-defunct band Madrugada. This comes at the album's apex.

In addition to the issues going into the album that most are now familiar with, Satyricon's self-titled album follows a variety of modern black metal conventions and aims to promote anti-propaganda music by reflecting more important concepts than hatred of the human race. In fact, this album, in the midst of black metal traditions involving witchery and rituals, seeks to create a work that, in addition to attracting larger audiences, introduces fully and completely the ancient culture of Norway. Ultimately, Satyricon is a story of old wood, rich memories, and mysterious forests.

Enter the darkness of the woods and the warm, colorful light of the forest?


Rating breakdown
Performance: 10
Songwriting: 8
Originality: 8
Production: 8

Written by R.Baldur | 11.07.2017




Guest review disclaimer:
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.


Comments

Comments: 5   [ 5 ignored ]   Visited by: 54 users
11.07.2017 - 17:23
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Nice review, reminds me DerRoz writing style, but not so poetical and epic. I love this
----
Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!

Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
apos;'
[image]
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
Loading...
12.07.2017 - 23:59
nikarg

The rating is too high, but I agree with your review and especially your comments about "Phoenix". Frost's drumming and Sivert Høyem's vocals make this song very special.
Loading...
13.07.2017 - 08:25
nikarg

Written by Guest on 13.07.2017 at 01:54

I agree with your opinion the real rating to this album (with the Black Metal view) is 7 or 7.5, In fact the atmosphere of this album (Progressive Black) and its live performance with the Norwegian Orchestra convinced me to give it a higher score, But I'm still waiting for Satyricon's real Black Metal like " Now, Diabolical " track.

The performance with the Norwegian Orchestra is amazing. I also adore the "Now, Diabolical" track, but I don't know if it's "real" black metal like their stuff from the 90s. Who cares about styles anyway if the music is good?
Loading...
07.09.2017 - 13:01
Rating: 7
Daniell
_爱情_
Written by Guest on 13.07.2017 at 01:54

But I'm still waiting for Satyricon's real Black Metal like " Now, Diabolical " track.

Your wish will be granted on the new album. "Black Wings and Withering Gloom" is quite close to the band's old style.
Loading...
07.09.2017 - 16:53
nikarg

Indeed it's a very good album. "Black Wings and Withering Gloom" is plain awesome.
Loading...

Hits total: 3300 | This month: 8