Satyricon
The Shadowthrone

We are in 1994, in the golden age of Black Metal; simultaneously with the masterpieces of other Norwegian peers, Satyricon creates their own. The album that will consecrate and make them immortal in the hearts of genre lovers: "The Shadowthrone."

Compared to the previous "Dark Medieval Times," the folk interludes in the songs are less present, it is a bit slower and less enigmatic, but it offers a remarkable variety within the individual tracks, providing numerous moments of true inner devastation. The duo Satyr - Frost is supported on this occasion by the omnipresent Samoth, who will handle bass and keyboard lines. The keyboards are never overpowering but almost imperceptible, intended only to create evocative atmospheres behind the granite walls of distorted guitar sound.

The album as a whole, of course, can't be anything but cold and evil, like every respectable black metal album, but it is never banal. Some "novelties" surprise the listener, such as background choirs or spoken parts in "clean." The "sound" of Satyricon remains unchanged, with riffs chasing each other, disappearing, and reappearing; never too fast, beautiful, sometimes almost indistinguishable - but intuitive - in the wall of sound and the background hiss. That hiss that everyone who dislikes black metal complains about, that hiss that makes albums legendary but criticizable - according to some - because "the production is poor."

Satyr's vocals are simply perfect: a true extra musical instrument; disturbing in its malice. Not unhealthy, evil. In my opinion, it's the best screaming alongside that of Nocturno Culto.
On the back of the album, there's a dedication to Fenriz, who will return the favor in his "Panzerfaust," published, by chance, by Moonfog.

Now to the tracks. They are all great, so I don't intend to do a track-by-track because, besides being unpopular here on DeBaser, it wouldn't at all convey the idea of the very long songs. I will limit myself to commenting on what I think are the best moments of the album. The first two songs, "Hvite Kriste Dod" and "In The Mist By the Hill" are legendary. The first is very varied, and the sonic assault alternated with more reflective moments is simply overwhelming. The first two minutes of the second track are simply among the best black metal has expressed in 15 years. Unfortunately, the song is slightly too lengthy, and the variations on the main theme can distract the listener.
The fourth track, "Vikingland" is very atypical but also very interesting, with the call and response between Satyr and the Viking choir and the beautiful central riff.
The last two, "Dominions Of Satyricon" and "The King Of The Shadowthrone" are consistent with the album, unaccountable for length and variety (obviously relative... it’s black metal, not prog, right?).
Worth mentioning is the essential instrumental closing the album, "I En Svart Kiste", where keyboards create truly relaxing yet unsettling melodies. Darkthrone will take inspiration from this with the concluding track of "Panzerfaust."

In conclusion, this is perhaps the best work of the Norwegian duo (trio), at least regarding the first phase, which concluded with the excellent "Nemesis Divina." The album is absolutely essential for genre enthusiasts. Others will obviously find it boring, annoying, and hostile.