Marduk
Viktoria


2.5
average

Review

by Robert Davis USER (306 Reviews)
June 29th, 2018 | 30 replies


Release Date: 2018 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Punky, relentless but also inconsistent and certainly clutching at straws in places.

In hindsight, I completely understand the necessity and apparent urgency for a black metal band that have been around for over two decades to now be thinking of going back to the roots, a decision that is often brought about by rabid fanbases and over-excited record labels. Yet Marduk are one such group that have nothing to prove, especially considering they made a name for themselves in the underground once with the underground movement of Opus Nocturne and again with the vicious snarl of 2007's Rom 5:12. Despite being aware of this, it seems that based on the evidence of latest album Viktoria's sole upcoming preview, the menacing opener "Werwolf", Marduk have taken a trip back in time to when their youthful exuberance was more obvious than anything else.

Having made this point, I still feel that this stylistic "shift" seems all too inadequate. To say that Viktoria is only 33 minutes long and does its job would be a real lie, because its first half gives the impression of a band running through demos than it does actually getting somewhere with a musical direction. "Werwolf" is excluded from this, but it doesn't exactly help matters when "June 44" is riddled with juvenile barks and "Tiger I" proves to be nothing more than a hellish slog through mid-paced boredom. The redeeming factors can be found in the generally speedy pace of most of these songs, but what matters here is not so much the musical style, rather the delivery and performance of the band. This is why it confuses me to say that the same band lazily slogging through "Tiger I" also happens to fire on all cylinders with "Narva", the latter of which propelling itself to highlight status simply based on its adventurous mid-section. You could also refer to the title track, which borders on symphonic black metal tropes midway as the guitars soar to higher musical pane, largely eschewing the generally mundane first half of Viktoria. Towards the end of the album it seems that there's a brilliant resurgence of some form of urgency from Marduk, almost as if "June 44" through "Tiger I" never actually existed.

Yet as great as the better songs of this full-length release are, you can't quite shake the feeling that a good half of the album sounds like it has been shoved aside. It's almost as if the band announced a B-sides collection, complemented by new tunes which still prove Marduk are doing what they do best, but only when they feel like it. The inconsistency is irritating unfortunately, and to say that about an album which consists of merely nine songs and 33 minutes is a warning sign to any musical listener that gets easily impatient when what they're hearing quickly becomes sloth-like. It's a nice musical direction for Marduk to think of heading in, but next time it would be great if the band actually made every song count. With Viktoria, it's very much a bottom-heavy feeling.



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user ratings (130)
3.1
good


Comments:Add a Comment 
linguist2011
June 29th 2018


2656 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

c/c welcome as always.

Conmaniac
June 29th 2018


27704 Comments


can I ask what your av is dude?

linguist2011
June 29th 2018


2656 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

can I ask what your av is dude?



You mean mine? or Bloon's?

Conmaniac
June 29th 2018


27704 Comments


since you're obviously ignoring what I originally meant, I was referring to the picture of a man apparently wearing blackface. thank you for changing it tho

Azog
June 29th 2018


1070 Comments


Marduk has done better than this, for sure. But then again, they've done a hell of a lot worse, too.

I actually find this album to be quite enjoyable. A fair and honest review, though.

Hawks
June 30th 2018


94727 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Love this band, will jam this hard.

TheNotrap
Staff Reviewer
July 4th 2018


19070 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

I love the simplicity of the songs

compromisedreality
July 11th 2018


47 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

@Bloon are you fucking stupid? Frontschwein was SO epic.



Hawks
July 11th 2018


94727 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

I love Bloon but yeah this band still rules. Plague Angel is such a hard 5 for me and ROM 5:12 is close too.



I mean those albums are like 10 years old but recent enough.

Dewinged
Staff Reviewer
November 16th 2018


32208 Comments


Decent, to say the least.

TheNotrap
Staff Reviewer
March 16th 2019


19070 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

Marduk / Funeral Mist fans should check the new Katechon. Rules

Hawks
May 10th 2019


94727 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Finally jammed this. Slayz. m/

TheNotrap
Staff Reviewer
August 7th 2019


19070 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0 | Sound Off

To all Russian & Asian sputmates (if we have any):



VIKTORIA ASIA 2019

- Sword in the East -



Oct 09 – Rostov-on-Don, Russia

Oct 10 – Voronezh, Russia

Oct 11 – Krasnodar, Russia

Oct 13 – Vladivostok, Russia

Oct 15 – Irkutsk, Russia

Oct 18 – Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

Oct 19 – Seoul, Korea

Oct 20 – Taipei, Taiwan

Oct 22 – Hong Kong, HK

Oct 23 – Davao, Philippines

Oct 24 – TBA, China

Oct 26 – TBA, China

FR33L0RD
March 27th 2020


6400 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

love hate relationship with this band

this album.. i like it



Solipsist
May 22nd 2020


104 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

As a Marduk apologist, I am curious what you hate about this band? If its Legion I'm with you, if its anything else lets debate.

FR33L0RD
May 23rd 2020


6400 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Im re-exploring Marduk lately. I used to think, in my past, that they were only average but came to the realization that they are much more. Now, i find them more unique with their own special dark style/vibe. I was a late bloomer, if i can say.

One of my fav. BM band now. Fascinating, how our appreciation can vary(up/down) or stay almost the same, with the passage of time, vs different artists.

(Sorry, sinthax wise, im not very good, english is not my first language)

Solipsist
May 25th 2020


104 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Your English is fine, I didn't even notice. I've also come the the realization that there is nothing generic or average about this band despite them having that reputation. I havent heard Nightwing-World Funeral however. I tend not to like hyperspeed BM so I doubt that period in their discography would intrest me much.

Solipsist
May 25th 2020


104 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

I cannot stand when people bash this band for lack of ideas. Mortuus redefines what can be done with black metal vocals. June 44 is a testament to his awesome vocal prowess.

zaruyache
May 25th 2020


27827 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5 | Sound Off

literally nothing he does in that song is innovative or particularly noteworthy? He's got a range of styles he employs, but that's not too uncommon in modern bm.

Pikazilla
May 25th 2020


31401 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

Band hasn't released anything noteworthy since Panzer Division. Rom and PA were lame, agreed.



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