Satyricon
Satyricon
Roadrunner Records
2013
I bet the news about Satyricon’s return spread joy to their loyal devotees. Of course, it ain’t the 90s anymore… and even though that sentence seems a bit illogical, it will make perfect sense as you go on. Hence, what would the fans expect from Satyricon? Assuredly, to listen to the kind of music that made ‘em what they are today. I’m afraid that Satyr & Frost had a different way of thinking and musical approach. Is this why they gave this album their name, after 23 years of existence… to show that a new era starts with this album? Well, that’s probable.
I do not know how to properly define the sound of this album, but one thing’s for sure. This ain’t black metal! In their so much-discussed self-titled album, they blend rock, atmospheric, dark, metal, extreme (due to the harsh vocals mostly), heavy, progressive (only in the music themes not in the technical part), melodic & doom elements together. Yeap, they have soften their sound; that’s another point that will make their fans freak out. They even have a song, “Phoenix”, with clean vocals done by Sivert Høyem of Madrugada! Huh! What’s going on here! A black metal band that’s fooling around with an alternative pop-rock one! Swell!! It may be a nice track but it’s like you’re listening to a whole different band. I mean if you didn’t know that this is Satyricon, you would never have guessed it! Moreover, the production is a tad weak, smoother and not powerful at all. It’s OK but nothing more.
Let’s face it. Satyricon ain’t that black metal band they used to be. I do not know why they keep going under that name anymore. They can easily start a new band, get a proper vocalist and follow the new musical direction they prefer. Their older fans are gonna keep this album at bay and dislike it. Sure, they may get a bunch of new listeners, but those would only be temporary listeners that will never accept nor care for the band’s history whatsoever. Eventually, they will give up on Satyricon as time goes by. But their die-hard fans will be there for them, when they decide to return to their old sound one day, if they do not call it a day in the meantime. This is a poor album from a band that reminds of Satyricon due to the name. On the other hand, were I to give an opinion, without being biased by Satyricon’s legacy, then I would call it a very flat, boring & uninteresting album at large. The songwriting is truly uninspired either way you see it!
I do not know how to properly define the sound of this album, but one thing’s for sure. This ain’t black metal! In their so much-discussed self-titled album, they blend rock, atmospheric, dark, metal, extreme (due to the harsh vocals mostly), heavy, progressive (only in the music themes not in the technical part), melodic & doom elements together. Yeap, they have soften their sound; that’s another point that will make their fans freak out. They even have a song, “Phoenix”, with clean vocals done by Sivert Høyem of Madrugada! Huh! What’s going on here! A black metal band that’s fooling around with an alternative pop-rock one! Swell!! It may be a nice track but it’s like you’re listening to a whole different band. I mean if you didn’t know that this is Satyricon, you would never have guessed it! Moreover, the production is a tad weak, smoother and not powerful at all. It’s OK but nothing more.
Let’s face it. Satyricon ain’t that black metal band they used to be. I do not know why they keep going under that name anymore. They can easily start a new band, get a proper vocalist and follow the new musical direction they prefer. Their older fans are gonna keep this album at bay and dislike it. Sure, they may get a bunch of new listeners, but those would only be temporary listeners that will never accept nor care for the band’s history whatsoever. Eventually, they will give up on Satyricon as time goes by. But their die-hard fans will be there for them, when they decide to return to their old sound one day, if they do not call it a day in the meantime. This is a poor album from a band that reminds of Satyricon due to the name. On the other hand, were I to give an opinion, without being biased by Satyricon’s legacy, then I would call it a very flat, boring & uninteresting album at large. The songwriting is truly uninspired either way you see it!