Aeonics-An Anthology (Best of Samael)

Samael | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 27, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: ce.me
• ASIN: B000MTEDPC
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #726,140 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

2007 compilation from one of Switzerland's most innovative extreme Metal bands. Their Black Metal sound has evolved as they've introduced elements of Industrial, Goth and other styles into their sound. 19 tracks including 'Exodus', 'Rebellion', 'Telepath', 'Rain' and more. Century Media.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive Anthology, April 16, 2009

By 

Justin Gaines (Northern Virginia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Aeonics: An Anthology (Audio CD)

2007's Aonics is the first comprehensive anthology from the Swiss metal band Samael. I hesitate to attach a label to Samael's brand of metal, as it seems to be constantly evolving. The band started their career as a sinister death/black metal act but soon evolved into a keyboard-heavy techno/electronic/industrial metal project. That pendulum appears to be swinging back to black metal, if their latest offering Above is any indication.

Samael is an innovative band, to be sure, but their albums can be a bit repetitive. That's where a compilation like Aonics comes in handy. It's a thorough retrospective that chronicles their early Osmose days as well as their more creative Century Media albums. Here's what Aonics covers:

Worship Him (1990) - "Worship Him" and "Into the Pentagram"

Blood Ritual (1992) - "After the Sepulture" and "Blood Ritual"

Ceremony of Opposites (1994) - "Black Trip", "Ceremony of Opposites" and "Baphomet's Throne"

Rebellion EP (1995) - "Rebellion"

Passage (1996) - "Rain", "Jupiterian Vibe" and "Moonskin"

Exodus EP (1998) - "Exodus"

Eternal (1999) - "Together", "The Cross" and "Supra Karma"

Reign of Light (2004) - "On Earth" and "Telepath"

Era One (2006) - "Koh-I-Noor" and "Reading Mind"

It's an interesting mix of older and more recent material, and the fact that the songs aren't sorted chronologically makes the contrast in styles all the more stark. If I were making a Samael comp I'd probably have gone with more tracks from Eternal (my favorite Samael disc) and less of the early, evil stuff, but that's just my preference.

With 19 songs, digitally remastered sound and a budget-friendly price, Aonics makes a great introduction to what Samael is all about (of course, that is definitely subject to change at a moment's notice!). It's perfect for newcomers, and works well for those of us who enjoy Samael's music, but don't love it enough to own all of the band's releases.