Mayhem De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas |
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 | Tracklist:
1. Funeral Fog
2. Freezing Moon
3. Cursed in Eternity
4. Pagan Fears
5. Life Eternal
6. From a Dark Past
7. Buried by Time and Dust
8. De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas
| Ranking: #63 for 1994 | |
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On 117 Lists
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| Summary: Mayhem aren't just good at burning down churches... |
7 of 10 thought this review was well written
In today’s day and age, it seems as though the word ‘Norwegian black metal’ has become synonymous with Satanism, and this term has unfairly come to be associated with the pioneers of Norwegian black metal, Mayhem. What the –rather uninformed- public fail to grasp, is that Mayhem, although not exactly a pleasant group of people, were still able to create music that was not only good, but extraordinarily revolutionary. Everybody should have ‘De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas,’ on their ‘to-hear’ list, as the infamous group Mayhem manufacture perhaps the best black metal record – of all time.
After original vocalist, Dead’s, untimely suicide in 1991, Mayhem were forced to recruit Attila Csihar, a singer hailing from Hungary. Although not containing the same calibre and skill that Dead possessed, Csihar puts on a useful performance throughout this record as his often barely audible vocals add a demonic touch to this quite evil album. The lyrics are suitably undecipherable, as Csihar’s brutal yet unique vocal tones distort nearly every phrase Mayhem have to offer. Yet this is a good thing, as it leaves the listeners to imagine that Mayhem is fantasizing about horrors that only they could cook up. ‘Cursed in Eternity,’ is a great example regarding Csihar’s distinctive shrieking, as his anger-fuelled yells and cries are a very prominent feature.
The guitar-work is phenomenal on this record. Eurononymous, although murdered just before the release of ‘De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas,’ shreds and riffs on his guitar with a brutal force that the world had never seen the likes of before. The production, which was beneficially raw and powerful, added an extra layer of ruthlessness to Eurononymous’ phrases. Every single track off this record contains a mixture of multiple guitar riffs, effortless speed picking and every now and then a shredding, authoritative solo. ‘Freezing Moon,’ encompasses one of these amazing solos, where Eurononymous just lets loose and shows his substantial talent at guitar.
However the guitar does not hog the lime-light within this album, quite the contrary actually. The drumming is remarkable; the percussionist slams down blast beats and rapid drum fills on constant occasions, adding an extra spice to an already hot track.
Varg Vikernes is also a very talented musician and his bass makes frequent appearances within this record. Heard on nearly all occasions, Mayhem were not afraid to turn the knob labelled ‘Bass,’ up as high as it could go, creating one of the greatest guitar-bass filled albums to ever exist.
What sets Mayhem, and more specifically, this record, apart from all other black metal releases, is the sheer brutality that is contained in nearly every corner of this album. This was, to black metal, nearly as influential as a ‘Glassjaw', or a ‘Radiohead.' The production value is very powerful, which gives the guitar-work a vicious edge. All the band members play their exclusive instruments quite well, and unlike some releases where there is too much going on, they fit into the attempted atmosphere like pieces of a jigsaw. Although common conception is that Mayhem are actually Satanists, this does not play a role in their music or lyrical content –whatsoever.
A face in stone... decayed by age
A man who has returned to tell of his damnation
Fears so deep, the mouth open wide
The dream died away before dawn of this time
The entire violent feel of this album seems to add up to be about the rise of the dead and the fears that everybody faces, which are concepts relatively void of Satanism.
To some black metal is scary; a form of Satanism. However, to others, black metal is their life. Whichever you are, ‘De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas,’ is an essential pick-up, whether you enjoy it or not.
'The world is like a library, and its people like books'
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
Album Rating: 4.5
a short review
Digging: Ire - Ire Digging: Ire - Ire | | |
this is just noiz
Digging: Florence & The Machine - Split
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
sup fade
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
m/
review reads like a 5, why 4.5?
Digging: Kyary Pamyu Pamyu - Pamyu Pamyu Revolution Digging: Kyary Pamyu Pamyu - Pamyu Pamyu Revolution | | | Album Rating: 4.5
lol review
"review reads like a 5, why 4.5?"
Probably because of this: "though not containing the same calibre and skill that Dead possessed, Csihar puts on a useful performance throughout this record"
his bass is a very protuberant fragment of this record
lrn2thesaurus plz
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
oh shit that was supposed to be prominent feature i forgot to change that back lol
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
lol vesper is it really that bad
| | | Album Rating: 4
come on dude they are pretty damn good at burning down churches...
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
it was vargs hobby
| | | Album Rating: 4
who?
isn't that that hippy dad dude?
| | | Album Rating: 5
just listened to this today and its still the shit. this album is infused with murder and suicide. makes it m/ as fuck.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
yeah it rules
scary band though
| | | Album Rating: 4
they aren't scary
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
lol nah i mean like what they did
| | | Album Rating: 4
yeah, bunch of good guys
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
honourably devoting their life to worshipping satan
| | | Album Rating: 4
satans a good guy
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
obviously he is he rules
| | | Album Rating: 2
Mayhem aren't just good at burning down churches...
they aren't even good at that since barely any of the burnings were done by anyone in mayhem
in fact, only one was, and that was out of pressure. unless i'm missing some.
Digging: Weakling - Dead as Dreams Digging: Weakling - Dead as Dreams | | | Album Rating: 4.5
from what i've read varg was the only one who burnt churched, but he did it quite a bit-enough to be considered "a serial chruch burner" in the eyes of the law. ANyways this review doesnt deserve 66% percent negative, it think Ill change that by posing  also this album is so amazing. I love attilas vocals
Digging: Saves the Day - Through Being Cool Digging: Saves the Day - Through Being Cool | | | |
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