Metal Reviews

Eh you didn't like Kenose or something? Fas is awesome and so is their latest ep Chaining the katechon or w/e its called. I think it has to do with the fact that Fas was my introduction to the band, but I prefer it over si momentum. Both are great but I don't believe I have ever actually sat and listened to Si straight through due to its ridiculous length.

I love Kènôse. I just love SMRC more.

And SMRC is long, but I don't know really why people complain about it. It's a really varied album, and explores all the little nooks and crannies of Black Metal, but from an entirely fresh perspective, so I can put up with the length quite easily, sometimes I don't even notice it.

I cannot agree with this at all. Beyond the alternation of Prayers and 'main tracks' in the first half hour or so, what's varied about it? Also, nooks and crannies? There's albums breaking much more ground than this, even within DsO' repertoire. You know, the French black metal revival of the beginning of the noughties was rather shortlived and shallow, SMR,C proved it still had some spunk. Beyond that, it's as IronDuchess said - rapidly rancid. A good effort at face value, but overrated as far as its influentiality goes.

It's got melancholic aspects (Jvbilate Deo), slow-burns (Hétoïmasia), odd orthodox atmospheres (Blessed Are The Dead Whiche Dye In The Lorde), some more straightforward material (Drink The Devil's Blood, Odivm Nostrvm) and even some oddly uplifting stuff, as on Carnal Malefactor. It covers a lot of different ground, and it all has that weird "orthodox" atmosphere about it.

I think SMRC is valuable because it covers a lot of ground within the black metal genre, as legacy said, and still manages to be completely unique without going into different genres like post-rock (Agalloch), prog rock (Nachtmystium) and shoegaze (Alcest).

Having said that, I must add that FAS is just as unique. It's in a completely different genre on its own.

Really varied? I think you're really pushing it, personally. An atmosphere of melancholy is not exactly foreign on a black metal release, and the "uplifting" aspect (beyond being subjective, of course) is, arguably, one of black metal's charms. If you look at acts like Burzum, Judas Iscariot, early Darkthrone and even the least varied acts like Xasthur you witness something similar. Even in the darkest, most depressing, melancholic or "evil" sounding black metal, there is always a sense of loftiness, a simultaneous atmosphere of majesty and supremacy that is quite uplifting, no matter how dark. In many respects, black metal itself is the glorification of darkness.

That said, I don't see how Jubilate Deo is any less or more melancholic or straight forward than Drink the Devil's Blood or Odium Nostrum. If you want straight forward black metal, then you've got it on Jubilate Deo, and it's not even close to being the best of its ilk. The so-called variety on this release (which even by your description isn't varied at all, since a lot of the terms you use are interlocked with one another and cross over easily on a number of other albums) really isn't beyond the scope of your average black metal album, the only difference being the orthodox atmosphere that you state is already on the entirety of the album, so not sure why you mention it in Blessed Are the Dead specifically other than to make it seem more varied than it is. Honestly, by your definition there are Burzum albums more varied than this. I don't see where this explores the various aspects of black metal since it really only encorporates one, maybe two, or its sub-genres (if we're looking at it stylistically speaking, thrashy bm vs. slow atmospheric bm vs symphonic or raw bm and so on).

The orthodox atmosphere is ultimately what attracts people to this release, which is where its sense of innovation stems from, so I'm not sure why people try to inflate this release beyond what it actually is: an orthodox black metal release.

I will never understand the immense hype surrounding this album, or even the band themselves.
As the Duchess said, it's really nothing that hasn't been done before, and better, by other bands.
I notice that most of the people that exalt this as the ultimate in black metal are, for the most part, casual listeners of the genre.
.

Cool logo, though. But then again, Cradle of Filth has a cool logo, as well.

What bands?

Really varied? I think you're really pushing it, personally. An atmosphere of melancholy is not exactly foreign on a black metal release, and the "uplifting" aspect (beyond being subjective, of course) is, arguably, one of black metal's charms. If you look at acts like Burzum, Judas Iscariot, early Darkthrone and even the least varied acts like Xasthur you witness something similar. Even in the darkest, most depressing, melancholic or "evil" sounding black metal, there is always a sense of loftiness, a simultaneous atmosphere of majesty and supremacy that is quite uplifting, no matter how dark. In many respects, black metal itself is the glorification of darkness.

That said, I don't see how Jubilate Deo is any less or more melancholic or straight forward than Drink the Devil's Blood or Odium Nostrum. If you want straight forward black metal, then you've got it on Jubilate Deo, and it's not even close to being the best of its ilk. The so-called variety on this release (which even by your description isn't varied at all, since a lot of the terms you use are interlocked with one another and cross over easily on a number of other albums) really isn't beyond the scope of your average black metal album, the only difference being the orthodox atmosphere that you state is already on the entirety of the album, so not sure why you mention it in Blessed Are the Dead specifically other than to make it seem more varied than it is. Honestly, by your definition there are Burzum albums more varied than this. I don't see where this explores the various aspects of black metal since it really only encorporates one, maybe two, or its sub-genres (if we're looking at it stylistically speaking, thrashy bm vs. slow atmospheric bm vs symphonic or raw bm and so on).

The orthodox atmosphere is ultimately what attracts people to this release, which is where its sense of innovation stems from, so I'm not sure why people try to inflate this release beyond what it actually is: an orthodox black metal release.[/quote

In reading the band members interviews on the Ajna Offensive, I can't help but disagree with this statement. True, the music itself is more or less prototypical black metal; yet the followup shows the band shedding the black metal chains. I've heard all of the band's you've mentioned, and while they are talented in their respective niche of the genre; I don't hear much similarity between them and Dso save Darkthrone.

Black metal being the pretty sequestered and dull genre it is, will easily have a myriad of similar sounds and bands. So I'm not sure comparing Dso to bands that utilize that same droning tremolo picking does much. However, I do agree that the "orthodox atmosphere" is why I love the album so much.

None that you'd like, but nice try.
I could list dozens, but you'd only talk your usual shit about them, so why bother?
You don't like black metal, so why do you even care?
Stick to your "intense" hyper blasting "wrath and fury" if you will, but you don't get black metal, it's intent and purpose, and that's fine; it's not your bag. This has been made clear ad nauseum, and it is actually pretty tiresome.
But keep your ignorant bullshit to yourself in regards to the genre, because, believe it or not, nobody gives a damn, because, as
I said, you really just don't get it.

Oh come off of it, I was just asking what bands you had in mind.

Ok, fair enough.

Any band that doesn't blast away against a wall of noise, for starters.
I could namedozens of superior black metal bands, right off the top of my head.

Arckanum
Graven
Valefar
Tenebrae in Perpetuum
Odal
Apathia
Burzum
I Shalt Become
Grausamkeit
Infaust
Judas Iscariot
Inquistion
early Gorgoroth (hell, even latter day Gorgoroth)
Watain
Svartsyn (Swe)
Malefic Mist
Vargsang
Funeral Fog
early Gehenna
Xasthur
Hordagaard
Szron
Ossadogva
Besatt
Darkthule
Svartarhid
Martyrium
Moonblood
Wigrid
...

That's not even scratching the surface.
I believe the whole gamut of various BM styles has been mentioned, and none of those are even that underground; when digging into the underground, it becomes even more interesting.


If you feel that Deathspell Omega - Si Monumentum Requires, Circumspice is the ultimate in black metal, good for you. Be happy that you have it to pump your 'nads, but don't act all indignat and shocked when not everybody feels the same way.

One last thing; Emperor - In The Nightside Eclipse is what I think of when I think of innovative black metal albums.
Technically flawless, it covers the entire range of emotions to be found in black metal.
Majestic, dark, haughty, melancholic, wrathful, reverent, Satanic, pagan, apocalyptic, martial...
still hasn't been touched to this day.

Playing hyper speed wall-of-noise death metal hiding under the cloak of black metal with a few chants thrown in (which is basically what I consider Si Monumentum Requires, Circumspice) is not what I consider to be innovative, though I am sure I am the odd one out on this.

I've heard quite a few of those bands passing by, though as mentioned in a prior conversation; Inquisition is the one that exemplifies that "Droning" style the most. I don't believe SMRC is the greatest black metal album, it's just one of the ones I happen to spin the most.

I definitely agree about Emperor, but come on dso is pretty damn innovative. Haven't heard a band that sounds like them, influenced maybe, but none that follow directly in their footsteps. At the very least you would have to admit they are an inspired band, they certainly have an intense passion for what they are doing.

I will do no such thing; I cannot believe how many people actually think this is what black metal is; and not only that, but the ultimate in black metal. It is nothing but a confused morass of aimless (supposedly technical, but whatever, I couldn't care less about how "technical" something is) riffs set against blasting drums with a few "avant garde" elements thrown in (Blut Aus Nord did it better) and quasi-death metal growls. Oh, and a few "prayers" thrown in for good measure. This is called black metal, but to these ears, it fails to qualify as such. Reversing the concepts of "god" and"Satan" does not make it black metal. And throwing in some Latin does not make it intellectual, either.
This is "black" metal for dilletantes, for those dabblers that really prefer death metal (which is in and of itself the opposite of what black metal is really about, when you get down to bare bones) or bands like Marduk, Funeral Mist, and so on. And that is fine. There is something for eveyone in this world after all. Just don't try and tell me that this is the end all be all of black metal, because it fucking isn't.
Call me an elitsit snob, I don't care, that's the way I see it.


Hell, I even gave it another listen earlier (it has been over five years since I last annoyed myself with it, and out of fairness I gave it another shot), knowing full well it was a pointless endeavor, but it was as frustratingly bland as ever.
It actually pissed me off.
Please, tell me what is exactly so innovative about this album, brcause I don't see it.

Any of them that you like?
I mean, you are into death metal, and that's cool, everybody has their own trip, so your digging bands like Funeral Mist, Deathspell, etc. and you not liking the bulk of the bands I listed, would be no surprise. I personally don't think one style is "better" than the other, just different. Comparing the two is like apples and oranges.
Black metal is almost the polar opposite of death metal, (at least as far as "extreme" metal goes) if you really think about it.

Cradle of filth, I don't think you can get blacker than that.

I’m personally talking about Si Monumentum (I dislike their later material for both similar reasons and a few other reasons on top of those), so what they did or didn't do with their following albums doesn't really matter as far as the point I was trying to make.

Also, I think you’ve misunderstood my mentioning of Burzum. I’m not claiming that DsO on Si Monumentum are playing a brand of Burzumic black metal. I was addressing the claim that Si Monumentum was "varied" because it "explores all the little nooks and crannies of Black Metal, but from an entirely fresh perspective." Legacy explained that by giving examples of "melancholic" and "uplifting" (among other such terms) tracks. Except that black metal is a genre that makes use of such atmospheres while simultaneously possessing a sense of conviction and supremacy. Det som en gang var, f.ex., gives off an atmosphere of despair throughout, yet at its climax sounds like a declaration of sovereignty and transcendence. This binary is far from alien in black metal, no matter the sub-genre. That these two exist together in an album does not equate variety beyond the norm.

As for bands that "do it better" there's the Darkthrone influence, though not as strong on Si Monumentum so probably not worth mentioning. Like cotb mentioned, Gorgoroth are an obvious influence that predates the whole orthodox bm thing(and old Gorgoroth is 20 times better than anything DsO have ever written to to boot). As far as bands that play a similar style there is the Swedish black metal scene. Marduk, Dark Funeral etc. plus DsO's predecessors coming a bit later: Ofermod, Funeral Mist, Ondskapt etc (who aren't really better, but who were doing it before Si Monumentum was released). I don't like most stereotypical Swedish black metal like Marduk and co., but there are bands that pull it off well. Setherial with their first three albums, especially Lords of the Nightrealm and Hell Eternal (Nord is a little different, less hyperblasting, more atmospheric and superior, imo). DsO on the other hand can't seem to write memorable riffs, and most of what they write on Si Monumentum is pretty flat. Instead, they screen it with, as cry of the banshee put it, a hyper speed wall of noise and chanting or samples. Really not all that earth-shattering or new in black metal.

That's actually one of the reasons why I have lost interest in DsO. Everything they released after SMRC (which I still like) just sounds like a blur or something. You cant really get a grip from the music and feel it, enjoy it.