Are Satyricon the Metallica of black metal?
An important and revered set of early works…the odd curve-ball…and an opinion-dividing run of commercial triumphs…But what do you do when you have successfully pushed a genre’s themes to about as far as they can go?
Well, you take a leaf out of Meh-tallica’s book, but instead of using an acclaimed movie score composer, and an orchestra, you use the Norwegian National Opera Chorus!
So this then, is the CD/DVD souvenir of a night that was filmed in September 2013 at Den Norske Opera & Ballet in Oslo, featuring the band alongside the 55-strong opera chorus.
Taken cold, as an audio experience, the 2 CD set basically showcases a professional and tight Satyricon live show, with a bias towards newer material (at that time, the last self-titled album). All the “hits” from ‘Now, Diabolical’, ‘The Age of Nero’ and ‘Volcano’ are present, and (as usual) the only representation of the distant past comes in the gargantuan form of ‘Mother North’. As for the contribution of the opera singers…their presence doesn’t particularly add or distract from the proceedings, it’s just kind of “there”. At worst, it sounds a little pompous…at best, it gives tracks such as ‘Die By My Hand’ and ‘Den Siste’ an apocalyptic edge, bearing in mind that (even though the later material has been quite simplistically riff based) Satyricon have usually sounded pretty grand anyway.
But as I say, this is just an opinion of the audio part of the package (and I’ve never been a fan of live albums), the DVD on the other hand comes across well, very well in fact.
The clash of cultures comes over better with a visual aspect. The formally-dressed chorus singers placed behind a bunch of “filthy metallers”, with Satyr’s ashen-white face picked out in a sea of darkness. It’s the counterpoints here that truly work well, validating both musical styles as they merge together.
During ‘Repined Bastard Nation’ Satyr makes sure that the crowd are out of their theatre seats and treating it like a rock gig, while Frost gets to “windmill” headbang while furiously assaulting his drumkit at the same time. The choir seem to be enjoying it too, as they are worked up into a frenzy during ‘The Pentagram Burns”. The slightly overwrought ‘Phoenix’ also fares better live, especially when you see the slight and vulnerable frame of the suitably attired guest vocalist Sivert Hoyem. This was clearly a special night for all concerned, and its capture on film provides the real reason to purchase this set.
This release signifies the end of an era for Satyricon. It’ll be interesting to see what they come up with next.
(7.5/10 Stuart Carroll)
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