Today we have three types of black metal musicians from Norway. The peak of the Norwegian black movement is roughly 25 years ago. A shining jewel that encapsulates all that was great about black metal before the scene imploded in an orgy of murder and church burning. 25 years after its release, the album stands the test of time as the masterwork of a band at their creative peak. Without doubt one of black metals crowning achievements, Nemesis Divina is a brutish yet subtle and sophisticated black metal discourse, infused with Nordic and pagan themes all delivered with power and grace. Whilst the album ebbs and flows from one superlative to another, it is 'Mother North' that stands tallest ensnaring the listener in its web of intricate yet melodic riffs, choirs and progressive themes. Graced with a suitably frigid atmosphere without succumbing to the basement dwelling necro sounds of fellow Norwegian Black Metal luminaries Darkthrone and their ilk, Nemesis Divina provides a grandiose take on old tropes with caustic riffing complimented by a cultured sense of nuance that alleviates it from the milieu of the time into an imperial masterclass of vision that would be seen as apogean to the upcoming third wave of Black Metal bands. With a maturity absent from previous works, Satyricon fuses the blizzard of riffs, blast beats and overall misanthropy of previous albums with medieval cadences, lush orchestration and intricate time signatures to herald a new dawn in the evolution of black metal.
Whilst continuing with the icy riffs and harsh atmospherics which had won them critical acclaim, Satyricon added a sheen of sophistication not previously seen and layered their sound with new elements previously alien to the traditional black metal template to create a refined yet organic soundscape, one both frigid in atmosphere yet surprisingly accessible.įrom the opening proclamation of "this is Armageddon" at the start of 'The Dawn of a New Age', it's abundantly clear that the band had created something special, an album that transcends its origins and the confines of black metal to forge a bold new vision. In 1996, fueled by the success of their previous 2 albums, Satyricon would unleash their magnum opus, Nemesis Divina. Satyricon's early contributions continued the legacy of frantic blast beats, cold tremolo picked riffs and raw vocals, whilst incorporating acoustics and symphonic elements amidst the mayhem. By the mid 90's, black metal's second wave had changed the musical landscape forever with a cold, primitive and stripped back aesthetic.
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