I find myself in serious difficulty trying to describe the greatness of "Nemesis Divina." Born from the fervent mind of Sigurd Wongraven in 1996, the album in question represents, in my opinion, the purest and most devastating essence of what is defined as True Norwegian Black Metal: the majesty, the violence, the cruelty, and the traditions of forgotten ages represent the core of this platter, the third and final masterpiece of the seminal Satyricon.

From a purely technical perspective, it's difficult to find obvious flaws in "Nemesis Divina": the production is more than good, the frontman’s screaming is as sharp as ever, the drumming is precise and incisive like few others, and the keyboard sections are present but never intrusive or pompous. The CD is absolutely devoid of weak tracks: the seven acts that comprise it are true Nordic anthems, passionate, cruel yet at the same time veiled with melancholy for the awareness of the relentless passage of time.

"Nemesis Divina" is opened by "The Dawn Of A New Age," the day of judgment and renewal, with an infernal prophet Satyr presenting us apocalyptic visions, supported by merciless and at times touching riffing. This composition lasts over 7 minutes, but they pass quickly between acoustic moments and recited parts by a seductive female voice, perfectly integrated into the sound wall created by the band. "Forhekset" is the first track entirely sung in Norwegian; it is extremely decisive, martial; the growl vocals increase the level of malignancy. Notable is the use of an acoustic instrument in the magnificent tail of the piece. In the third position, we find the immortal "Mother North," precisely that composition which is undoubtedly the flagship of the group. The song in question alternates a solemn mid-tempo march accompanied by keyboards to more violent explosions and represents a true declaration of love for the homeland of the two musicians, a stern condemnation to those who seek to uproot its pride and majesty. "Du Som Hater Gud" is the second track sung in the band's native language, which directly connects to "Forhekset"; both are quite direct, but where the latter is more cadenced, the fourth song of the album is instead more violent. This piece also has a very particular tail, on which the sound of a magnificent and at the same time disturbing piano is grafted.

"Immortality Passion" has something baroque, unsettling yet grandiose; the lyrics only reinforce its aura of mystery, unraveling over the more than 8 minutes that the song is composed of. Impressive here is the alternating use of melodic moments and destructive attacks, which leave the listener puzzled until the abrupt conclusion. The sixth track is the title track, perhaps the most malevolent and traditional song of the batch; endowed with a devastating start, this composition assumes a powerful and regular course over time, leaving room for a tail with an unimaginable epic charge, truly thrilling and impossible to render in words. "Transcendental Requiem Of Slaves" is the concluding instrumental: it is certainly the track with the most dreamy and melancholic pace, dragging the listener into a slow vortex of ancient visions long lost.

As I have already said, I consider "Nemesis Divina" a definitive masterpiece, and therefore I recommend it to all those who love Metal to become passionate about a grand and fascinating sound dimension that Black Metal can be, provided it is interpreted with the heart and passion abundantly poured out by the masters Satyricon on this legendary platter.

 

P.S. I am fully aware that the review presented here has already been published a couple of times on DeBaser, but I believe, from my very modest point of view, that the writings of other reviewers do not adequately celebrate this masterpiece.

I hope not to offend or bore any of you.

Regards.

Tracklist Lyrics and Videos

01   The Dawn of a New Age (07:27)

"And I looked, And behold a pale horse:
And his name that sat on him was Death
And Hell followed with him. And power was given
Unto them over the fourth part of the earth,
To kill with sword, And with hunger, And with death,
And with the beasts of the earth".

And then again "I saw and beheld, a black horse;
And he that sat on him had a scythe; And a crown
Was given unto him and he went forth conquering, And to Conquer
And there was a great earthquake, And the sun became black
As sackcloth of hair, And the moon became as blood.

And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth,
Even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs,
When she is shaken of a mighty wind, And the heaven
Departed as a scroll when it is rolled together,
And every mountain and island were moved out of their Places."
Almighty mountains and rocks, I beg you fall on them.

For the great day of wrath is coming, And who shall be able to stand?

02   Forhekset (04:31)

Forhekset av tidenes vind, Besatt av Nattens kolde gufs
Under ravnsvart himmel de bedriver Blodskam og hor
Med skingrende stemmer de påkaller Dypets makter
I en sirkel bundet av Grimme visjoner

Båret av dyrets Glans, Omfavnet av dødens vinger
Av det dypeste hat i det sorteste av det mørke
I en eng av torner... Nå i fullmånens besettende lys

De nagler englene til jorden med sjel og kropp
Kaos hersker over de hvite domener
Profetier blir oppfylt
Jorden står i et hav av flammer

03   Mother North (06:25)

Mother North, How can they sleep while their beds are Burning?
Mother North, Your fields are bleeding

Memories... The invisible wounds
Pictures that enshrine your throne, Gone

A Future benighted still they are blind
Pigeonhearted beings of flesh and blood
Keeps closing their eyes for the dangers that Threat...Ourselves and our nature
And that is why
They all enrage me

Sometimes in the dead of the night I mesmerize my soul
Sights and visions prophecies and horror
They all come in one

Mother North, United we stand (Together we walk)
Phantom North, I'll be there when you hunt them down

04   Du som hater Gud (04:21)

Du som hater gud, og kristent liv
Føler hans nervær, som en bitter kreft
Her må det skjendes, og skjendes kvasst
Himmerikets enger, dynket i blod

Hater av gud
Og lyspesten

Se inn i guds lamme øyne
Så spytter de i hans åsyn
Slå i hjel hans ynkelige lam
Med klubbe

Gud med ditt og dine
Har du lagt mitt norgesrike, i ruiner
Fordumstiders staute skikk og bruk
Kvestet du med dine stygge ord
Nå skal du bort fra vår mark

05   Immortality Passion (08:23)

I am the beast in passionate pain
I am the grim being of the highlands
Of the other side...
I am winter when you freeze
I am the hammer and you are the anvil

Forever in warfare my heart is
With my passion of despair
Still though I was there when the hills were born
And when the wind blew for the first time
So there are reasons for my existence

Seems like I dwell in a circle
Somewhere in the Nordic Hemisphere

Where the howling winds rage
And the mountains are majestic
I can breathe and where there is
Human flesh I feel strangled

Open the gate to immortality
I stand proud awaiting the glory
Of a new morning...Darkness

06   Nemesis Divina (06:54)

Eder har gjort vaart rike raattent
eder har gjort vaart gull rustent
og flammene fra de veldige sletter er alt vi har aa minnes fra verdig
manns tid

Eder har bragt kvalmende lys i dragens hule
eder har malt kors paa hammer
og vi har siktet pilen paa menneskesønnens usle trone

Nemesis divina splinten i øyet paa jehova
Nemesis divina kniven i hjertet paa guds sønn

Eder har bragt elsk til fiende
Eder har gjort ravn til due Men det olme øyet er vendt mot eder og hevnens
klokke ringer

Eder er vitnesbyrd om brente broer og glemte sanger
Eder er barmhjertighetens fedre og milleniumspestens budbringere
Dog skal en dag naa komme da eder barn i tre skal henge

Nemesis divina splinten i øyet paa jehova
Nemesis divina kniven i hjertet paa guds sønn

For stridsmenn har naa hevet øksen og bespottelsens tegn er reist
Nemesis divina - for straffen maa komme

07   Transcendental Requiem of Slaves (04:44)

[Instrumental]

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