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Rating: In the history of extreme metal of "Nordic" origin, whether it's black, death, or something else, there has always hovered a form of "ritual or cultist respect" among the enthusiasts, aided by the impressive myriad of furious (?) metal bands and groups devoted to the glorification of the Dark Forces (??) through gut-wrenching distortions, battler rhythms, and demonic screams (???). The detractors, on the other hand, claim the "true black metal" was (and still is) an adolescent outlet, too often ending poorly (Burzum, Emperor...).
In this crowded hall of funny marionettes, luck has too often favored bands that never truly boasted merits, between those who raised their limits and stereotypes as banners (Immortal) and those with works slightly more than amateurish (Dark Throne) that began the "raw black" trend that so amuses face painting fetishists. However, the real mass success has eluded them, being claimed by those who filled their sound with orchestras and dazzling costumes (Dimmu Borgir).
Amidst this amusing circus, there are few bands worthy of real interest but unfortunate, first among them the Swedish Dissection. Too black to appeal to the alternative with a red-hot tuft, too death for the lo-fi audiocassette collector, too varied and intelligent for both, at least musically.
After a good debut album, the band released the beautiful "Storm Of The Light's Bane" in 1995, an epic but never garish melodic death/black pillar, magnificently structured. After such a significant work, the path seemed clear for success, yet the leader Jon Nödtveidt thought it appropriate to commit murder and spend the next decade in the welcoming Swedish prisons.
In 2006, both Nodtveidt and Reinkaos were released, and things had changed, a lot. Did imprisonment also lead to artistic maturity? Perhaps, if not for the fact that just after the Return tour (or rather, Rebirth), the frontman decided to end this life in a spiritual elevation ritual (????). Simply analyzing the last work of the late Dissection, one immediately notices that the new path taken was very different from the '90s career. The black is completely gone, the death metal has remained in its place while the rock (exactly, particularly the '70s one) has crept into the fabric of these 11 tracks.
It begins with the intro "Nexion 218," a short yet evocative instrumental that suggests the melodic vein that will delight listeners' ears throughout the album. The following "Beyond The Horizon" is, in reality, not as memorable as one would expect from a first song: its progression is quite standard, and the chorus is not very catchy. No worries, because the next track, "Starless Aeon," from which a video was made, is definitely successful; the guitars scratch without crushing, the voice screams with rage but is not cacophonic, the rhythm doesn’t perform miracles but supports the piece well until the beautiful chorus. And here Nödtveidt's lead guitar weaves precious threads in the song's power.
Absolutely exceptional is the subsequent "Black Dragon," introduced by an acoustic arpeggio and guitar echoes that lead into a '70s rock riff (let's say Rainbow reinterpreted by a melodic death group). A solid rhythm and expressive vocals (if we don't expect Roger Chapman-style vocalizations) give a "groove" air to the composition. The following "Dark Mother Divine" moves along the same coordinates, with a bit less spark. Then comes the more metal "Xeper-I-Set," a good mix of melodic death and Slayer-like rhythm.
"Chaosphobia" relaxes the ears for 40 seconds with its acoustic guitar arpeggio, but "God Of Forbidden Light" attacks again with a '70s riff on metal textures (not so extreme), and like "Black Dragon," hits the mark: especially, the leader’s lead guitar gives us more memorable passages and notes. When the songwriting is inspired, there’s little to complain about. The title track is entirely instrumental, and if it weren't for its length, it could be called a mini-suite: indeed, there’s even a progressive air (rock, not metal) on epic melodies (without cumbersome keyboards or roaring effects) of classical inspiration. Great solo performance, by now there’s no need to underline one of the strong points of the work in general. A bit interlocutory is "Internal Fire," similar to the opener (intro excluded): pleasant melodic death metal but a bit insipid.
We have reached the closure, entrusted to the already known "Maha Kali," which is symbolic of the entire LP (and the lead single of the same): melodic metal mixed with classic rock (with a slight prog-rock flavor), all seasoned with crystalline sounds. Once again, the songwriting is excellent, the guitar sounds inspired, and the female vocal interlude is successful.
A small note on the lyrics, most might skip this line: they are part of a proto-philosophical concept aimed at the "Sonic Invocation of the Infinite Dark Eon." One can immediately understand what the lyrics might talk about, written "Behind Prison Walls," quoting literally...
Not surprisingly, this album did not sell well, leaving the most ardent old-style fans dissatisfied, who cried out for yet another betrayal, and did not attract new listeners, perhaps also due to the now consolidated Dissection/Nödtveidt/prison image. A pity, as the album itself (stripped of its philosophical or cultist aspect) is truly valid, which does not reach the status of an absolute masterpiece only because of a couple of less successful episodes. Is it a coincidence these latter are precisely the most classically death metal? Perhaps the dimension the group was pushing into foresaw a departure from the metal scene. I don’t think we’ll ever know for sure.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
03 Starless Aeon (03:59)
Starless Aeon
by Dissection
The seventh aeon will soon pass as it has been foretold
The false empires will crumble and all illusions shall be destroyed
The enslavers tremble with fear, soon our stars align
The forbidden gates begin to open by the power of our forceful sign
Daath - wisdom of the abyss is the key to the broken star
Eleven angles pathways of chaos will bring forth our most wrathful god
Qliphothic forces from beyond will usurp the tree of cosmic lies
The sleeping dragon awakens smelling the elixir of our sacrifice
Dies Irae Dies Illa Solvet Cosmos In Favilla
Vocamus Te Aeshma-Diva
Dies Irae Dies Illa Solvet Cosmos In Favilla
Vocamus Te Aeshma-Diva
This is the winter of the last aeon, the hungry end is coming soon
Harbinger of the day of wrath will eclipse the sun and rape the moon
Unfold the starless aeon, the hungry end is coming soon
Harbinger of the day of wrath will eclipse the sun and rape the moon
The snake will completely devour itself putting an end to the cycle of time
Acausal flames will burn all to ashes erasing all signs of the demiurge crime
Our dark gods of chaos will return, this time to rule forever supreme
The dragon mother will then resurrect and end this cosmic dream
Dies Irae Dies Illa Solvet Cosmos In Favilla
Vocamus Te Aeshma-Diva
Dies Irae Dies Illa Solvet Cosmos In Favilla
Vocamus Te Aeshma-Diva
05 Dark Mother Divine (05:44)
From her throne of skulls rules our Queen of endless might
She is the initiator of dark dreams - Bringer of Luciferian light
She is Satan's mistress, a reflection of the Black Sun
A Queen of the sinister moon - She's our dark mother divine
Lilith - Our Dragon Goddess
Taninsam - Destroyer of lies
For your glory we kill this world
In thy name we Sacrifice
Bringer of nocturnal light
Grant us the powers of the eyeless sight
Unveil thyself our obscene Queen
And cleanse us with the Black Flames of your beauty
We are your faithful children
And we call upon you in this blackest of rites
Open now the gate that is your womb
Engulf our spirits with your raging night
We wash your lotus feet with blood
The life force of our enemy
We slay all those who would defy you
And with grim death seal their destiny
Bringer of nocturnal light
Grant us the powers of the eyeless sight
Unveil thyself our obscene Queen
And cleanse us with the Black Flames of your beauty
Bringer of nocturnal light
Lilith, we cry out thy name
Bless us with thy infernal presence
And open the pathway
Ishet Zenunim Taninsam Ama Lilith, Liftoach Kliffot!
Ishet Zenunim Taninsam Ama Lilith, Liftoach Kliffot!
Ishet Zenunim Taninsam Ama Lilith, Liftoach Kliffot!
Ishet Zenunim Taninsam Ama Lilith, Liftoach Kliffot!
Dark Mother, Mother Divine!
Dark Mother, Mother Divine!
Dark Mother of Wrathful Chaos - Come forth through the gate
Grant us the blessings of the dark bleeding moon
Virgin, mother, whore and crone
Open now wide the Kliffot's shell - Open wide the gates of Hell!
And lead us to the kingdom of Chaos where the dark gods forever dwell
06 Xeper-I-Set (03:08)
Master - Typhon - Apophis
Dweller beyond the seven stars
Crowned red king - Set-hen - Amam of the eternal black skies
Thou art the rayed one - Erbeth - Saatet-ta
Lord of the shining force of night
The Wrathful majesty - Bolchoseth - Hau-hra of anti-cosmic might
Calling upon thee amidst the chaotic angles
I'm praying that thou, o ancient one,
Wilt deign to bless my Satanic magic
And to bestow upon me thy Acausal light
O fiery lord of the black sun,
I seek the bloodstained grail of gnosis
So that I may crush the archons' cosmic lie
Break the laws of Maat
With a glance of thy all seeing eye
I invoke thee, possessor of all hidden keys
God of the unknown and the lawless ecstasies
Initiate me, thy most faithful child
In the darkest of mysteries and all pleasurable crimes
Xeper, Xeper-I-Set
Xeper, Xeper-I-Set
Xeper, Xeper-I-Set
Xeper-I-Apep
I am the cruel one, Isfet lives in me
I am the power and total victory
I'm the murderer, who refuses to submit
I am the opponent, the sworn enemy
I invoke thee....
I become thee,
I am one with he who grants me the freedom which I seek
The tunnel of darkness reveals the light
As I enter the desert - The desert of Set - The kingdom of eternal night!
11 Maha Kali (06:04)
Maha Kali, dark mother dance for me
Let the purity of your nakedness awaken me
Yours are the fires of deliverance which shall bring me bliss
Yours is the cruel sword which shall set my spirit free
Devourer of life and death who rule beyond time
In thy name I shall fulfil my destiny divine
Maha Kali, formless one, destroyer of illusion
Your songs forever sung, the tunes of dissolution
Kalika, black tongue of fire, embrace me
Make me one with your power for all eternity
Awaken within me the reflection of your flame
Kiss me with your bloody lips and drive me insane
Jai Kalika! Jai Kali!
Make me one with your power for all eternity
Maha Kali come to me
Smashana Kali, I burn myself for thee
I cut my own throat in obscene ecstasy
I make love to abominations, embrace pain and misery
Until my heart becomes the burning ground and Kali comes to me
O dark mother, hear me calling thee
Mahapralaya, bring to me
Through all illusions I shall see
I shall cremate this world and set my essence free
Jai Kalika! Jai Kali!
Without fear I will dance with death and misery
Maha Kali, come to me
"O Kali, thou art fond of cremation grounds
So I have turned my heart into one, that thou may dance there unceasingly.
O mother, I have no other fond desire in my heart.
Fire of a funeral pyre is burning there."
[Female voice:]
Jai Maha Kali, Jai Ma Kalika
Jai Maha Kali, Jai Ma Kalika
Kali Mata, namo nama
Kali Mata, namo nama
Jai Kalika! Jai Kali!
At your left hand for endless victory
Maha Kali, come to me
Jai Kalika! Jai Kali!
Mahapralaya will set our spirits free
Maha Kali, come to me
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