Myrkur – M
This has been a hugely anticipated lp for me. And I was totally satisfied by it. Tonight I’ll have the pleasure of seeing Myrkur live, and I really look forward to it.
Venom – Black Metal
Venom and I have travelled this strange existence together for the last many years. My old chum Kenneth has Welcome To Hell as picture disc and it was often played and enjoyed. Then in 1986 I went to Sweden for a week, there I met a Swedish metal head (whose name is lost in time), and he had At War With Satan, which he thought was too extreme for his tastes, so he gave it to me. Kenneth and I were blown away, especially by the title track. At some point Kenneth also bought Possessed, an album that ranks high on my inner album top 100. I even got my dear old English teacher to help translating the lyrics to Powerdrive into Danish.
What I like about Venom, is their roughness and punky sound. Their influence on what was to come is impossible to overstate.
I had the good fortune to see them live in Copenhagen in 2007 with Swedish Niflheim. We were about 50 die hard Venomites there, and even if the review from devilution.dk is luke warm, I personally had a blast.
My copy of Black Metal is a reissue with a bonus lp of Radio One sessions and 12″ versions. Nice things here too.
Bathory – Bathory
Look! Batlord!
This lp is so innocent and simple. No one knew how this would change the path of many a youngster, not least in Norway. No need to delve into that tragedy again.
Bathory was always a favorite of mine, I heard the songs on Scandinavian Metal Attack vol. I and II first. It was harsh stuff back in 1984. Now as a seasoned veteran, I enjoy the roughness and naïvety of the early Bathory, as well as the pompous viking stuff of later albums.
Tribulation – The Children Of The Night
I first learned of Tribulation after reading a review of their 2008 album The Horror. I bough it, and loved it. The thrashy death metal on that lp is fresh and invigorating. Listening to The Horror while writing this review, I am surprised to find that I can recognize many details in it, that reminds me of The Children Of The Night. But still, The Horror is quite straight forward.
The Children of The Night is anything but straight forward. Laddies and gentlemen. We might have the beginning of the future of metal here.
There, I said it!!
The Children Of The Night is a fantastic lp. I have listened to it quite a lot since its release, and haven’t really begun to fathom its depths yet. But smack my arse and call me Charlie! This is some good music, that transcends genres and rules. I taste Deep Purple, Iron Maiden, Morbid Angel, Entombed, Ulver and so many other influences. I’ll be surprised if this lp oesn’t end up on top of many a Best of 2015-list.
Did I mention that it is a double vinyl with music on three sides, and a cool etching on side 4?
I might return with a better review – maybe even a track by track – later. For now, I’ll just engulf my self in the musical bliss that is The Children Of The Night!
http://www.discogs.com/Tribulation-The-Children-Of-The-Night/release/6909072
Emptiness – Nothing But The Whole
I know nothing about Emptiness, but am pleasantly entertained… They seem to be Belgian. This lp is from 2014, and has gotten some cool reviews, and deservedly so. Lurking out-of-the-ordinary and creepy black metal.
http://www.discogs.com/Emptiness-Nothing-But-The-Whole/release/6014607
Myrkur – Myrkur
Vær hilset. Ever since I saw Relapse Records promoting this ep, I’ve been intrigued. I’ve also worried that it would be crap. I got the record in the mail today, and I’m happy to say that it is in fact quite good. It even has the potential to grow on me I suspect. I really like the spheric vocals, and the drums (that some people dislike) sounds fine and groovy to me. The songs are good, and the musicianship fine for this old grinder. I might give this ep an extra review later on, when I have had the chance to delve into its depths. The kvtl/vn-kvlt-ness of this record is of no significance to me. I think this is a good black metal record, and I look forward to hearing more from her in the future.
Ghost – Opus Eponymous & Infestissumam
I have taken a long time to get to writing about my love for Ghost. But now I’m ripe.
Ghost is a Swedish heavy metal band. Little is known about the true identities of the members, who guise as Nameless Ghouls (instruments) and Papa Emiritus II (vocals).
They have released two albums, and this entry is about them both.
Opus Eponymous is their first lp. It deals heavily with satanic and carnal matters. The music is incredibly groovy. I read about Ghost when this was released, and gave the record a spin on Spotify. But I wasn’t in the mood for it, and dismissed it as wannabe Mercyful Fate. Then their second lp Infestissumem came out, and I stumbled upon a nifty yellow vinyl edition one day and had some change in my pocket. So I bought it, and was blown away. To be honest, I have always loved music with a satanic edge. I am not a satanist, but as you can see on this blog, I often listen to satanic music. And when I hear mainstream-ish music with satanic messages, I’m sold.
I have also always had a soft spot for bands in disguises, I have loved KISS since Unmasked came out in 1980. So apart from the sexy satanism and the groovy 1970’s heavy rock, the fact that the members are anonymous really makes me happy.
Acoording to my last.fm stats, I’ve listened to Ghost 317 times, and that’s only the digital plays… Baby – Daddy’s HOOKED.
My last.fm: http://www.last.fm/user/Sortebob
Opus Eponymous: http://www.discogs.com/Ghost-Opvs-Eponymovs/release/3818761
Infestissumem: http://www.discogs.com/Ghost-Infestissumam/release/4613550
Jucifer – Throned In Blood
This is some dirty, gritty shit. Very highly recommended. I have been into Jucifer for a few years, I like their very personal take on all things metal and punk. I hope to see the live in Copenhagen some day.
http://www.discogs.com/Jucifer-Throned-In-Blood/release/2232541
Bathory – Bathory
Aaaaargh. This is a sweet lp. From beginning to end, it oozes evil.
No Yellowgoat – but the crosseyed goat looks good in white too.
Darkthrone – Black Death and Beyond
Oh wow. I am really happy I bought this 3lp boxed monster. This is such a great collection of songs and the packaging is outstanding, Darkness Descends anyone?
I can never do this box justice, so I won’t try.
Get it if possible. Or regret it forever
http://www.discogs.com/Darkthrone-Black-Death-And-Beyond/release/5706140
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