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Rating: Squalid and irritating just like its own cover, this latest effort by the Swedish band Dark Funeral is practically the perfect antithesis of my expectations regarding black metal. I am aware that I am very critical and picky towards this niche genre (not so niche in recent years), always contested for its frequent references to Satanism in its most common and immediate meanings.
Now, this is a review and I don't feel like writing a treatise on this rather delicate and controversial subject, but let me briefly say my piece: I am always willing to listen to everyone's opinions, the pros and cons, the reasons, the beliefs, and the ideas, provided they are expressed with discernment, logic, and especially intelligence, and this last one in the musical realm gives a certain aura of originality as well; a certain type of music can arouse a bit more interest if the (possible) ideas are expressed with class and acumen and for this reason the lyrics and atmospheres created in the tracks assume a particular yet inseparable cohesion that makes the music even more enjoyable to savor. But I can refer to the most disparate genres without too much distinction, like pop, Celtic, and even black metal, because there are also black bands that know how to go far beyond the classic "satan satan oh satan I give you my soul," and I really appreciate and admire those.
Yet, putting the disc in the player and proceeding (with difficulty) with listening, the first questions I asked were:
"Is this it? Can't they do better? Where is the acumen in this band and in this album in particular?"
Nowhere. The first aspect to evaluate is obviously the music itself and I could end the discussion here by saying that "Attera Totus Sanctus" is the fourth album (not counting the live albums and various EPs) in the studio of DF and they have not moved an inch from their first full-length. Sure, the production and sound have improved considerably compared to twelve years ago, but in terms of technique and "creativity" the band has not budged from the beginning at all.
So, listening to "King Antichrist", "666 Voices Inside", the title track, "Godhate", "Angel Flesh Impaled" and all the other songs with embarrassing and perhaps a bit childish titles, you will come face to face with the extreme obtuseness of black metal that has made this genre so much an object of disgust and clichés. Songs with wicked riffs, fired up to the max and with an Emperor Magus Caligula (that's the singer) who screams, splashes, vomits various blasphemies, now at god, now at jesus, now at various saints and so on, just to appear PureFuckingUglyNastyGrimSatanicEliogabaloDamnatioMemoriae and thus tarnish a genre that I believe does not deserve to be ridiculed by all these logically and coherently void antics. If you want to do black metal, it's more advisable to do it in a convincing and interesting way, perhaps changing the way certain themes are presented, modernizing the style, and adding something that can surprise the listener, because with albums like this people tend to stay away more and more and are pushed to lump everything together.
This is not black metal, invoking the figure of Satan without even contemplating its nature and true meanings solely and exclusively because one is angry or to put on a show and attract an easy audience is not black, just as it does not mean being black metal to stagnate on one's sound for twelve consecutive years—and I can't believe the band itself isn't tired yet.
I would like to go on and say a lot more, but I would end up dwelling on definitely out of place themes, so since there is very little to say about the band and the album in question, I conclude by giving it two stars. This is nothing but the horrible caricature badly done of black metal, and I almost feel ashamed myself. I am sorry for those who appreciated the album in question, but I just can't stand certain things.
P.S. I may be an atheist but that does not mean I necessarily have to promote gratuitous and senseless blasphemy.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
03 Attera Totus Sanctus (05:39)
I gave the serpent its beauty,
I gave the serpent its charm.
I gave the serpent its fatal attraction,
And to all that is holy I gave putrefaction.
No one be my master,
Nor chains I abide.
Look deep into my eyes,
You'll see the storms are at my side.
To all that is holy,
Oh how I hate thee.
Your god, done nothing,
For someone like me.
I am a child who were born out of sin,
I am a soul that you'll never win.
I see right through, all of your lies.
You have no kingdom,
where people come to when they die.
Both heaven and hell inside me,
I have chosen the devil, because I like to be free.
Do what thus wilt that is the law,
Or obey under god, and be one of his whores.
I am a soul that you never win,
I live my life in total sin.
I see right through all of your lies,
You have no kingdom where people come when they die.
No one be my master, nor chains I abide.
Look deep in my eyes, and you'll see the storm at my side.
To all that is holy, oh how I hate thee.
Your god he is nothing.
Attera Totus Sanctus.
04 Godhate (05:08)
In the land of Israel, not too long ago.
A man sat in his prison cell, watching the moonlight.
They called him the king of Jews, but he had no crown.
All he had were his hope, for the coming of his Lord.
A Lord that isn't there when you are in need,
A lord so full of shit, you will die for his deeds.
Guilty or not, you're full of shit.
Spreading your lies that too many believes.
You are a fake, and I know the truth.
I know your name and your god I do hate.
When the moon fades away, the rise of sawn.
Our self-proclaimed king, he starts to cry.
Guilty, guilty!!!
You will die upon your cross, amongst the other thieves.
Guilty, guilty!!!
You will die upon your cross, amongst the other thieves.
The day has now arrived, and it is time for you to die.
Still blinded by stupidity, believing you are Christ.
Walking down the streets of Jerusalem,
covered in spit, from the people you loved.
Guilty or not, you're full of shit.
Spreading your lies that too many believes.
You are a fake, and I know the truth.
I know your name and your god I do hate.
Guilty, guilty!!
You will die upon your cross, amongst the other thieves.
In the land of Israel, not too long ago.
A fake sat in his prison cell, watching the moonlight.
They called him the king of Jews, but he was a clown.
And every nail through his flesh is delivered by me.
Guilty, guilty!!!
You will die upon your cross, amongst the other thieves.
05 Atrum Regina (05:35)
My nocturnal queen,
Infernal, earthly and divine.
There on your knees,
My beloved concubine.
You look deep into my eyes,
As your mouth opens wide.
Lips moves up and down,
Soon in demon seed you'll drown.
Now close your eyes my love,
Drink my essence, and forever you'll be mine.
Atrum Regina, my nocturnal queen.
Atrum Regina, you fulfil me.
Now rise in front of me,
Oh how I wish to enter thee,
Of lust overwhelmed.
Is this a dream, or is this real.
Now bend down,
Feel my claws runs up your back.
As I enter thee, with full force from behind.
Feel how the demon seed, ejaculate inside.
Goddess of my dreams, my beloved concubine.
Atrum Regina, my nocturnal queen.
You fulfil me, Atrum Regina.
07 Feed on the Mortals (05:43)
When the moonlight rays awakens me,
I rise from my grave.
In the hunt for fresh blood I fly through the night sky,
Carried by the winds and everywhere I go,
Death will follow.
Eternal bloodlust, a soul condemned by god
Cursed to live forever entire and intact.
To forever walk the path of loneliness,
And the only shelter provided by shadows.
Provided by shadows.
With me comes horror,
With me comes death.
With me comes pain,
A soul that never rest.
How I want peace,
Grant me the eternal sleep.
To stay in my grave,
To the end of days.
Please let me rot,
This nightmare must stop.
Enter my kingdom, a dreamland of hate,
Here is so cold.
Always surrounded by death never see, the rise of dawn.
Only the light of the moon, to feed on the mortals,
Forever I'm doomed.
I'm the king of nocturnal,
Never rest in a tomb.
With me comes horror,
With me comes death.
With me comes pain,
A soul that never rest.
Eternal bloodlust, a soul condemned by god
Cursed to live forever I am immortal.
To forever walk the path of loneliness,
And the only shelter provided by shadows.
Shelter of shadows.
With me comes horror,
With me comes death.
With me comes pain,
A soul that never rest.
How I want peace,
Grant me the eternal sleep.
To stay in my grave,
To the end of days.
Please let me rot,
This nightmare must stop.
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