| | Full Review | Ratings (117) |
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| 4.5 superb | Jared Floryan | January 4th 16 |
There is nothing in the world that's more horrifying than fear itself, which is an emotion capable of taking various forms. Avant-garde musician Diamanda Galas' 1982 debut album, The Litanies of Satan, happens to be one of said states. At a runtime of nearly 30 minutes, this two-piece LP is potent enough to bring out the insanity and terror living within our bodies. The scare factor of the record doesn't decrease as time passes, and what helps is the length; if The Litanies of Satan were any longer or shorter than it already is, then I doubt that the offering's chilling, remorseless atmosphere would be satisfying. Get a steel desk and a paper bag handy, because you'll need it to endure the awesome nightmare that is this album. Oh, and Diamanda has one of the most versatile vocal ranges ever.
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| 0.0 | Lambda | February 6th 15 |
WARNING: Only fans of avant-garde and/or other extreme music need apply. The Litanies of Satan is perhaps one of the most terrifying records ever recorded. Diamanda Galas' shrieks, wails, screams, and other vocalizations sound like noises from the pit of Hell itself. The vocal talent on display here is extraordinary. It's over-the-top at times (the "I'm talking about steak" moment on track two) and with a runtime under half an hour, it's a little short. But, nonetheless, The Litanies of Satan is a frightening and intense journey into some dark musical depths. 4.5
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| 5.0 classic | NietzschesMoustache | November 29th 22 |
Experimental, A cappella // 1982 // Best: "The Litanies of Satan"
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| 5.0 classic | StonedManatee | August 12th 20 |
The first industrial noise avant-garde masterpiece. If you want to test a friend's musical palette, this is the album to play to either expand it or find a limit. You also may possibly lose this friend in the process of playing the album. It is not meant for mass consumption, it is not pop garbage. You are not going to have a pleasant first listening experience with this album and that is fine. The best albums challenge what we define as music at times and this album challenges most musical palettes. If you can get through a listen of this album, your musical tastes and tolerance will change for the better.
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| 4.5 superb | Alabaster Jones | December 5th 16 |
In one (or, in this case, hundreds of) crazed breath, Diamada Galas showed that not only was she an unmatchable talent when it came to vocalization and a Capella, but that she was impressively adept at fleshing out a concept that was both understandable and interesting. In the case of The Litanies Of Satan, the concept is simple: life as we know it is hell, and the incorrigibly evil deity known as Satan lives within every human mind. Thus, the second track on the record follows the theme in the sense that it is about a human mind driven to madness by this hell. Musically, there is nothing other than Galas' simultaneously incredible, insane, impressive, and unnerving vocal acrobatics to be found, save for some industrial banging and slight ambient drone on the title-track, and it truly couldn't be any other way. Though it's not quite on the level as some of her later projects, it's definitely a unique and challenging record that firmly established Diamanda Galas as a force in experimental music.
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| 4.5 superb | AnimalsAsSummit | August 19th 15 |
one of the darkest albums ever conceived. additionally, one if the most brilliant and ingenious works of music i've ever had the pleasure of hearing
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| 5.0 classic | bach | March 25th 24 |
| 3.0 good | ffs | February 17th 24 |
| 3.0 good | Hawks | December 26th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | hamid95 | August 14th 23 |
| 4.5 superb | Aurora | January 5th 23 |
| 1.0 awful | rcohle | July 16th 22 |
| 5.0 classic | Henry | September 11th 21 |
| 1.5 very poor | Rmazer | August 22nd 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Sine | April 5th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | bmelt CONTRIBUTOR | October 14th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tom Read CONTRIBUTOR | April 17th 16 |
| 5.0 classic | unkle | November 6th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | oubli | January 27th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Phate72 | January 16th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Kenos | October 30th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | cuki92 | September 6th 11 |
| 3.5 great | ziroth | June 17th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | nkbr | April 10th 11 |
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