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Rating:
A raw and powerfully self-referential album, that doesn’t neglect the haunting melodic background that made "Enthrone Darkness Triumphant" great. Shagrath's vocal performance is truly exhilarating in the heavy, cruel, violent opener "Moonchild Domain". Sung entirely in a deep, hoarse, fierce growl, with no interruptions from the barely hinted scream characteristic of the singer, it has an obsessive, booming and haunting rhythm. Probably the best gem of the album. Directly vomited from the abyss, the lengthy "Chaos Without Prophecy" focuses on an exquisite work by Nagash, possessing a feverish and brutal strength. Shagrath re-experiments with the vocal technique that a year before led to the success of "Enthrone Darkness Triumphant". Excellent also are the guitar solos from three minutes and ten seconds into the track for the next twenty seconds. Perhaps too technical, but nonetheless beautiful.
Dug up from the dust and time (a hidden reference for my friend Hatemoornet: let’s see if you get it) terrifying in its new shade, the unforgettable "Hunnerkongen"...one of the few cases where the lesser crudeness of the recording does not alter the devastating charm of the ancient fury. A Black masterpiece of yesteryear. The fourth position breaks the oppressive atmosphere with the keyboard-driven, dreaming of Nordic nightmares, re-adaptation of "Raabjorn Speiler Draugheimens Skodde"...the icy shiver that the unforgettable "For All Tid" had transmitted runs down the spine with renewed vigor. Shagrath performs a proper scream in the splendid fading finale. A piercing arpeggio opens the fifth track...is it possible? yet...guessed it: it’s "Metal Heart", masterpiece by Accept...sung in a special scream, inflamed by growl peaks, and above all a guitar virtuosity. Unforgettable is the rising solo. And finally, three exquisite live performances: "Stormblast", "Master of Disharmony" and "In Death's Embrace". The group does not miss a beat on stage. Particularly unforgettable "Stormblast" where Shagrath incites the crowd, yelling "Sons of Satan, gather for Attack!". Beautiful also "In Death’s Embrace"...Nordic chill, oppressive atmospheres and black violence make the album a must for every devotee of the group...
"...we're the black-hearted Angels, fallen from grace..."
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Moonchild Domain (05:24)
"The witchborn queen, leader of demonic whores
Profane mistress, captor of sin
Sworn to feed the ill and the weak
and bring their women and men into temptation
Eliza, the whore of the night
attends the sabbath, the theater of lust
The hunter is in the ring, caressing folds of flesh
-Diabolical intercourse profound
She who brings horror to the insane
and haunts the sick and its kind
Selector of innocent holy infants
tempting their flesh, poisoning their mind
The young harlot, who acts by the trust of her fate
Cursed beneath the hands of doom, the grand master of hate
For her and hers the bells chaim
Damnation's own
Evil superior siren, moonchild domain
-A sculpture for the holy to burn"
02 Hunnerkongens sorgsvarte ferd over steppene (03:05)
Endelost du kriget pa steppene
Nadelost du herjet i fjellene
Du tok dine seire med storm
Knuste fienden ved din hand
Oh, Attila!
Gjor meg til din tjener
Oh, Attila
Ta meg til din h?r
Du levde i morke
Du vandret i sorg
Du plyndret med stal til hest
En stolt og stridig konge
Som erobret hver en borg
For sa a heise fanen til fest
Attila, hunnernes konge
Krigenes herre, var far
Du hentet din styrke fra morke
Og pa tokt med deg jeg na drar
03 Chaos Without Prophecy (07:10)
"The quest for Azunda hath drawn near
The young king, the chaos he brings
With iron grip's sword, chants come forth
The child of dark is he
In prophecy, chaos not bear
In chaos, prophecies begone
The child of dark, hath forseen
He makes his own destiny
The magic he creates is from his will
The magic of Azunda, he shall receive
Iron grip's sword guides his path
To the place which is no more
The journey to this place is creation
In this creation, he shall be
Living for himself and his destiny
In his path, lies of the prophecies
In his mind he sees another
Who wishes to receive, Azunda
He sees light within in he's enemy
And laughs at the prophecy
His will and his word is his sorcery
He is waiting for thee
To put an end to this prophecy
Azunda, give your power to me
The child of dark has found thee
And now must destroy, evil thee
Iron grip's sword has gone through thee
Now, Azunda is mine for all to see
The king's task has been complete
The chaos has begun for all to see
04 Raabjørn speiler Draugheimens skodde (05:04)
Langt der borte I m�rket
Gjennom tretopper der m�nelys driver
Langt der borte I all t�ke
Inn gjennom min sjel den sorte angst river
P� de mosegrodde steiner de seg viser
N�r nattem�rket har senket seg over
Ekkoene fra deres grufulle jamring
Endel st� du kan h�re
I horisonten langt vekk
Skimtes den sigende skodde
Horder av ild rider m�nelyset I flokk
Ved daggry de samles ved en bortgjemt odde
Den iskalde snoen
Har kommet
Denne gang
I evig fokk
05 Metal Heart (04:40)
It is 1999
The human race has to face it
They are confronted with the truth
It's secret--mysterious
A surgeon said it in the news
The human race is dying
But the result is no disease
Searching for you
Metal heart--metal heart
They found it everywhere
Metal heart--metal heart
Lifeless piece of steel
The scaring fact was even told
Total confusion
They found the same nightmare
Heartbeats--time bombs
Metal heart--metal heart
Unplugged they're dying
Metal heart--metal heart
Unplugged they die
Metal heart--metal heart
They found it everywhere
Metal heart--metal heart
Lifeless piece of steel
Metal heart--metal heart
Unplugged they're dying
Metal heart--metal heart
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