Title: The Age of Nero
Artist: Satyricon
Genre: Black Metal
Release Date: 14th November 2008
Label: Roadrunner Records
Album Review
SATYRICON was founded in 1990 under the name ECZEMA. They aroused attention with their debut album ‘Dark Medieval Times’ combining Black Metal with acoustic guitars and flutes. The next two albums ‘The Shadowthrone’ and ‘Nemesis Divina’ turned to more traditional Black Metal, SATYRICON were one of the first Black Metal Bands to sign a deal with a major label. With their already sixth studio album ‘The Age of Nero’ they now return to the scenery.
The album opener to ‘The Age of Nero’ comes ‘round the corner with blast beat inferno that initially hides between a layer of subtle electronics before the breakthrough completely supported by scissoring riffs riding on it like on a raging bull. Then the tempo is decreased without loosing the harshness and Satyr’s distinct vocals sound; an opener with a lot of diversity. ‘Wolfpack’ is somewhat straighter forward in its structure and keeps a mid-tempo interrupted with a few of Frost’s thundering drum attacks. The riffs could use some more diversity for my taste. ‘Black Crow on a Tombstone’ raises the harshness level again and pumps forward relentlessly, while it falls back into a mid- and sometimes even down tempo. “Here comes the messenger, the bringer of dark days” however ,y secret highlight is the following ‘Die By My Hand’ , initially piling up walls of uncompromising drumming just to change almost completely in its later part, the beat gets halting like a viscous black primordial soup. Here and there decent electronic elements like choirs complement and complete the track.
Usually, the Black Metal is nothing I’m really into and SATYRICON hasn’t basically changed that however it’s a kind of Black Metal which is comparatively pleasing for my ears and comes up with enough diversity to keep me going.
Tracklist
1. Commando – 4:30
2. The Wolfpack – 4:05
3. Black Crow on a Tombstone – 3:51
4. Die By My Hand – 7:07
5. My Skin is Cold – 5:14
6. The Sign of the Trident – 6:57
7. Last Man Standing - 3:39
8. Den Siste – 7:23
Line-up
Sigurd „Satyr“ Wongraven - Vocals, E-Bass, E-Guitar, Keys
Kjetil „Frost“ Haraldstad - Drums
Website
http://www.satyricon.no/ / http://www.myspace.com/satyricon
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 7
Sound: 7
Extras: -
Total: 7 / 10
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