After more than a decade of aggression, the time for divine intervention has arisen. After the blood sacrifice was deemed properly performed, selecting just the best pieces of babies, “In darkness thou shalt worship me,” so states the sacred text of Synagoga Satanae, Tom G. Warrior answered the call to the old gods and appeared to them in the recording studio, and the outcome shall become history.
Before spinning this disc go back and listen to “The Blade” to prepare yourself. Lets jump right in with the “Invocation.” Is this a Helheim moment or a Tom Warrior flashback? In the beginning there was no Frost, then 1349 became known as the band so good Frost wanted to join. Later people were clamoring to see them live with session drummers, now Frost is here but not really. He is in the recording studio but he is not working his magic. I would argue that he has bought into the system. He is performing the style that best fits the new direction. In the past we were often treated to lengthy buildups in songs, now forget the ‘song’ and just intensify the buildup. Ravn has earned the moniker Singer of Strange Songs. Revelations is more noise oriented, harsher and more grating. “Serpentine Sibilance” has flashes of speed, but ambient noise is the name of the game from here on out. “At The Gate” closes out in the album in wet blanket on a frigid day style ambience.
Like everything else they have tried, they stick with it and perfect it before unleashing it on the public. Revelations of the Black Flame is an excellent example of modern black metal and should be weighed against other albums of similar style, not against Hellfire or Liberation. Turn the volume up and prepare to be absorbed. I would recommend repeated listens so you can get past the initial shock of no Hellfire revisited, you will be glad you did.
First positive review I’ve seen so far. I haven’t heard any of this album yet but you’ve convinced me to at least give it a listen. I am something of a fanboy after all.
on Jun 14th, 2009 at 22:14First positive review I’ve seen so far. I haven’t heard any of this album yet but you’ve convinced me to at least give it a listen. I am something of a fanboy after all.
on Jun 15th, 2009 at 04:47Sorry, forgot to add great post! Can’t wait to see your next post!
Nice first paragraph
on Jun 15th, 2009 at 06:28a strong review but even though I very much enjoy a lot of stranger and more ambient forms of black metal this didn’t click with me at all.
on Jun 15th, 2009 at 08:33I like this one a lot – much better than listening to too-fast-blast-beats for 40 minutes straight.
on Jun 15th, 2009 at 09:37Listened from beginning to end without interruption, and still disappointed.
Like the previous comment from vugelnox, I enjoy a lot of dark, ambient, metal stuff… but I just found this to be a boring record.
on Jun 15th, 2009 at 10:28Since I’m not really a fan, I listened to this with the intention of judging it on its own merits… and I found none. Horrible record.
on Jun 15th, 2009 at 16:04I was eager to hear this album and tried to give it a fair listen but I’m quite disappointed. There only seems to be a handful of actual songs.
on Jun 15th, 2009 at 17:46Could Not get into this at all.
on Jun 16th, 2009 at 09:39They sure went out on a limb with this one. It’s all about creating an evil mood. I didn’t really get it until the Floyd cover near the end, which is the best track for me. Still though, those ambient tracks could have been done better.
on Jun 17th, 2009 at 00:08Yeah, this review makes no real sense. Just some random blabbing about how 1349 owns and then Tom Warrior is in there for some reason, and in conclusion “great album!”
Bad review, bad album.
on Jun 22nd, 2009 at 23:56