They don’t rush things do they? With five years having passed since the release of Age Of Nero one could almost have forgotten about Satyricon if their stature in the pantheon of Norwegian black metal had not been so important. Would you even call their output black metal now? Many would not since 1996 album Nemesis Divina and I would not disagree or split hairs but there has been something quite impetuous about the last album and predecessor Volcano (was it really 11 years since that came out)?! They were slow burning albums that took a while for the melodies to sink in and overpower you but when they did they had some truly magnificent numbers from the cleaving guttural ‘Fuel For Hatred’ to the grandiose ‘Black Lava’ and the rot n roll of ‘Black Crow On A Tombstone’ a number you simply cannot help but chant along to. So naturally I was very keen to get to grips with Satyr and Frost’s latest opus even if I do always worry when band so far into their career come up with a self-titled album. To me it simply smacks of lack of ideas or even faith in their songs to name an album after one of them, still they never really fail to disappoint so…
Well the opening instrumental annoyed me from the off. Sure I can see the point, many bands cannot get straight into things and feel the need to introduce their music gradually but the opening bars of ‘Voice Of Shadows’ had me thinking they were going to be playing ‘The Saints Go Marching In’ which would have been highly inappropriate. Now every time I hear this I can’t shift that notion and may have ruined it for you in the process. The first couple of tracks don’t exactly enamour me, they are lethargic and simplistic from the pitter-patter formulaic drumming style of Frost which is far from dynamic to Satyr’s monotone croaks be they in Norwegian or English. I have been playing this to death but the magic has not sunk in on these and they are so workmanlike and unadventurous it makes me wonder what the hell they have taken five years to work on. ‘Our World, It Rumbles Tonight’ well rumbling is not what we want really we want it to shake, rattle and roll as though the flames of hell are about to rise up and consume it.
We get some of those rolling grooves at last on ‘Nocturnal Flare’ and although it sounds like it could easily be a cut from the last album the mid-paced, gravid demeanour is welcome and there is maybe not an exploding flare but a sparkle. Unexpected and quite wonderful sees Phoenix really standing up (saying rising from the ashes would be just too damn obvious). It seems to be that bands are trying to surprise their fans by putting in songs with clean vocals and these along with the wonderful lush harmonies and melody which won’t leave your head for ages is exactly what Satyricon have done here. However whereas the likes of Erik Danielsson and Niklas Kvarforth are happy to provide clean vocals themselves Satyr steps aside and leaves it to Sivert Høyem of Norwegian rock band Madrugada. Fair enough if you can’t do the job yourself why not get someone else in and Sivert has a wonderful voice that totally consumes but it just seems a bit odd not to have Satyr singing on what I can only describe as the best track on the album. Black heads rejoice as they contrast this with the albums most violent track and ‘Walker Upon The Wind’ does deliver the goods and some much needed extremity with fast drumming and a scything guitar tumult which will no doubt be a highlight of these new tracks live.
You really do have to groan at a title like Nekrohaven. There’s some distorted vocal effects here and one looks fondly back to Rebel Extravaganza. That may well be a distant memory but at least this has some satisfying nuances and a chorus and following guitar harmony that do a good job of invading your head. It draws to a conclusion in a formulaic fashion unfortunately the drop of rumbling mid groove to sudden shimmering parts on albums longest track ‘The Infinity Of Time And Space’ work well but those pitter-pattering drums again! The obligatory instrumental closer is thankfully nowhere near as annoying as the opener.
So a real mixed bag. On first couple of listens I really disliked this but at least with continuous playing it has grown and gone up about a point and a half in my estimation. Still for the time it took it has to be said Satyricon is a bit of a disappointment and although I look forward to catching the band on tour and seeing how some of these translate (I guess Phoenix won’t be included generally) I can’t say I’m over enamoured here. Guess in another five years or so we will see if they follow it up with something more dynamic.
(6.5/10 Pete Woods)
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