Average Rating: 3.67 Rating Variance: 0.71 Objectivity Score: 72% (Fairly Balanced)
Sort by: Rating | Release Date | Rating Date | Name5.0 classicBehemoth Zos Kia Cultus (Here and Beyond)Burzum Hvis Lyset Tar OssDarkthrone Transilvanian HungerEmperor In the Nightside EclipseImmortal Pure HolocaustMayhem De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas4.5 superb1349 HellfireProduction here is deliberately poor (but not grim poor) to establish atmosphere without which the fuzzy, raw and unsettling sound 1349 unleashes could disappoint rather than satisfy. Hellfire is as much a throwback to the old as it is a (hopeful) forerunner to a new wave of black metal; 1349, with their built in influences yet unique sound could help establish a bridge between the true norwegian black metal of the early nineties and a future wave that could bypass the now trendy symphonic school of black metal. If more modern bands took influence from 1349 than from the generic run-of-the-mill heap from 1996-pres. there could indeed be a future for the genre. This album is consistently good but does not mesh together into one massive opus, rather distinct tracks each evoke separate sounds for easier listening. Guitar melodies repeat, driving into the listeners skull as barbaric drumming lends a wall of sound through which machine-gun tat-tats that could be called percussion punctuate evenly. Ravn's unique voice lends its own charm to the album, avoiding the cookie-cutter Burzum rip-off shrieks or any other often imitated never duplicated tricks of the genre. The cohesive whole of the album, individually well-orchestrated components assembled to the end of a sum greater than its parts, earns it a place next to the res of my favourites. If all goes well for black metal and it does not die out or inflate with trend-hungry leeches, Hellfire may well be the De Mysteriis dom Sathanas of a decade later; a classic bound to inspire imitators and heirs.Bathory Blood Fire DeathDissection Storm of the Light's BaneDissection The Somberlain4.0 excellentBehemoth Sventevith (Storming Near the Baltic)Sventevith is the best album of Behemoth's black metal career. From start to finish it rivals the best releases from the best in the genre, never once on this album do Behemoth fail to please. Minor (just barely enough) folk influences are heard here, though not to the degree that ruined Grom. Vocals are tragic and melodies are beautiful. This release is much more mature than Behemoth's earlier albums; its a shame that folk influences in the Grom era disrupted this near perfect sound; Infernos presence in Bewitching the Pomerania and after further distanced Behemoth from this style of playing. This album is the climax of Behemoths' black metal career, and it was a well crafted finale. Behemoth DemigodBook of Black Earth The FeastBurzum Det Som Engang VarEmperor EmperorUlver Nattens Madrigal3.5 great1349 LiberationAverse Sefira Tetragrammatical AstygmataBurzum Burzum/AskeDarkthrone Under a Funeral MoonEmperor Anthems to the Welkin at DuskEmperor IX EquilibriumImmortal Diabolical Fullmoon MysticismMayhem Live in Leipzig3.0 goodAverse Sefira Homecoming's MarchDark Funeral Attera Totus SanctusImmortal Damned In BlackImmortal At the Heart of WinterMayhem DeathcrushNaglfar Sheol2.5 averageBehemoth GromDissection ReinkaosImmortal Sons of Northern DarknessMayhem Ordo ad ChaoMayhem Chimera2.0 poorDarkthrone The Cult Is Alive
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