Satyricon
Dark Medieval Times

Year 1994 the black metal was in turmoil; it was its peak success with albums like 'de mysteriss dom sathanas', 'hvis lyset tar oss', 'arise', 'the return', 'bathory', etc.

In 1994, it was also the debut of one of the pinnacles of black-folk; their name is Satyricon, they are Norwegian, and their album is a mix of folk and Norwegian black metal. The impact of this masterpiece is indelible on music; without it, half of today's bands wouldn't exist. This album is a timeless classic, an essential album in any respectable black metal collection. A style enriched by folk elements with flutes and lutes that evoke a medieval atmosphere. An album where there is no room for Satanism and anti-Christianity; the themes of the album connect back to the Nordic Middle Ages as the album title suggests, showing a love these two musicians have for their land: Norway. It describes cold, dark, and eerie passages suggesting extreme fear. We could label it an epic-folk-black metal album.

The epic aura that surrounds it is definitely evocative, it seems to recall Viking battles, capable of transporting the mind back to the cold centuries in Norwegian land among the fjords of Scandinavia. The quality of the music is really excellent; the album was recorded in a Norwegian forest during the heart of winter. The guitars sound like rusty chainsaws while the drumming is composed of a double bass. Perhaps some may not yet know "Skyggedans" from this album. "dark medieval times" consists of seven tracks of pure true Norwegian black metal with folk influences; it starts with walk of path of sorrow and dark medieval times, two real Nordic anthems. The guitars seem taken from 'a blaze in northern sky' by Darkthrone. "Skyggedans" is the shortest track on the album, and you can hear the Hyllest Tze darkthorian influences, especially in the writing of riffs and drums. A cold wind accompanies the moments of acoustic guitar in "Hyllest Til Vinterland", a track so evocative and melodic. Then comes in might in the forest, where a layer of folk guitars is added to a layer of cold keyboards freezing your hands, recalling the riffs of Demonaz from Immortal. At the first minute, cold keyboard rounds are followed by a folk solo. Listen to this piece and close your eyes; you will find yourself in a Norwegian forest dancing with the elves.

"Taakeslottet" is the track that closes the album, and you will find yourself with a slow martial riff accompanied by the haunting and fierce singing of Frost. It's a slightly subdued track but enjoyable. In conclusion, I repeat, we are in front of a masterpiece of black-epic-folk metal, an extraordinary debut for Satyricon, an album of grandiose black metal that navigates between the unhealthy black metal of Darkthrone and the eerie folk black of Emperor.

A platter that will delight all lovers of true Norwegian black metal with folk influences; simply a piece of extreme metal history.