Metal Reviews

w/e, you guys. I think it's funny how you all dismiss it as "hyper speed wall-of-noise death metal" when a lot of it is pretty mid-paced, and there aren't too many blast beats as far as Black Metal is concerned. I still think SMR,C is the "end-all-be-all" of BM. A lot of BM fails to interest me these days, but SMR,C is still an album that I can really get into.

I'm most definitely not saying dso are the best bm band ever (and they ARE black metal), but I have no problem saying they are one of the best in the modern scene. Throw on Chaining the Katechon and tell me that isn't unique. Those riffs come from a different planet or something lol. They have a style completely their own on both Si Momentum, and everything after, constantly evolving and never content to repeat themselves.

There is an awful lot more going on with their music than playing "hyper-speed death metal", but perhaps its just not your cup of tea?

Seriously it's like we are talking about two different albums. I don't hear a wall of noise a la Immolation or such death metal bands, but rather a suffocating atmosphere created by dissonant riffs and ambient created by a perfect combination of instruments and good production.

Also, the lyrics are more than just god and satan swapped places. I think they are one of the very few bands that sound convincing enough that they believe that Satan is the ruler of this world, in the Luciferian sense if I'm not mistaken. The lyrics are very well written and manage to sound intellectual, which is rare in black metal while it is filled by thousands of satanic bands. I am an atheist and don't buy that crap for a second, but the lyrics are so well written and backed up by the atmosphere so well that it gets is point across to even the most skeptical bastards like myself.

You should also take it into consideration that the album was released in 2004 where the genre hadn't seen something that innovative in the last few years. It has been better ever since.


Also, SMRC is very different than other religious (orthodox) black metal bands before and after it (Watain, Ofermod, Malign, Antaeus, Katharsis). Its influence is very obvious. Bands tagged orthodox bm have really incresed in numbers, where there weren't many before it.

Even though there might have been some bands doing this kind of music with a religious atmosphere I have only heard the term orthodox black metal after SMRC. It might not have started the genre, but it definitely perfected it and many bands are following DsO's footsteps now.

I don't intend to step on any toes with this, but: if the chants and the 'orthodoxy' are really that important to you, you're being a bit superficial. SMR,C is in many ways Inquisitors of Satan with above elements tacked on. I believe a better mix of ingredients could've been attained, and I believe they partly got there on Fas.

I've given the album a few more spins, but to no avail. I believe the hype and my backwards exploration of DsO's discography is to blame. If it were another band releasing this as a debut, I'd love it despite the imperfections and look out for a more mature sophomore effort, but as it is, with all the overreacting and undue praise, I'm deeply disappointed.

No, the message is not that important to me, as I said I am not a believer. But the Satanism stuff has been a part of black metal since the beginning and DsO have managed to make it into something that is a rather serious religious statement than "fuck yer jesus" kind of unintelligent crap. That's all I'm saying. The message isn't important but it is important to the concept of the album, the lyrics go well with the satanic religious atmosphere within the music. Inquisitors of Satan was pretty much the other way I was talking about.

haha... you've obviously not heard Hecate Enthroned.
Makes Darkthrone sound like Justin Beiber.