Customer Reviews

Casus Luciferi

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"Casus Luciferi" has long been one of those albums that I think fondly of when I begin to miss the heyday of black metal. It has a diabolical blend of new and old, as it pays homage to Mayhem and Dissection, yet manages to be even more sinister and quite unique in the grand scope of things. There are moments of blistering chaos interspersed with moments of mid-paced morbid beauty, to craft a record of multiple dimensions. Tracks like "Opus Dei" and "I Am the Earth" are unholy anthems that testify to the purpose and promise of Watain in spectacular ways.

As much as I love the material on "Casus Luciferi", I've always thought the production job was seriously flawed. I do have appreciation for underground black metal, but certain styles of playing also lose some of their impact and effect if the sound quality is poor. The original recording of this album had extremely low bass and a very weak, paper-thin sound that was extremely disappointing for the segments of music that really summoned power and intensity.

Once I discovered that this record had been remastered, I bought it immediately, having heard the improved production Season of Mist offered on "Sworn to the Dark". Let me simply say that this is exactly the treatment the album deserved from the start. The bass mix is thunderous and powerful, and every instrument is clearly distinguishable from the others. A haunting, demonic atmosphere is captured brilliantly on this remaster of an album that has helped to keep the black, pulsating heart of black metal alive still today.

Watain's "Casus Luciferi" is an extraordinarily furious work of black metal art. An oddly accessible dark magic, which seduces you with it's mounting crescendo of hypnotic riffs../^ before bursting into the grand-evil finale of climactic title track "Watain."

The eerie multi-dimensional guitars../^ sinister anguished vocals... lyrics full of misanthropy and rage... The furious drum storm & churning bass-engine all come together wonderfully for an hour of blatant blasphemy so sickeningly turbulent... only occasionally loping into a crushing mid-pace before sucking you back to it's powerful vortex once again. Like trying to escape the Death Star tractor beam... Melody and power fused well... I don't hesitate to give this 5 stars and recommend you track it down before the inevitable 5-year wait for a repress.

So good... I can't say enough about this album, right up there with Mayhem's De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas and Absu's Barathrum:(V.I.T.R.I.O.L.) They are at their peak on this album with dark, heavy music and my favorite drumming of all their albums!

I could play better guitar then this if my butt grew fingers. None of the melodies are obvious, there all buried in a stupid, loud muck. It's all randoom and it just goes on and on with no repetition and there aren't even choruses! I heard these guys were way better then Dark Funeral, but Dlark Funaeral have some truely blasphamous Satinic lyics, and this is all like fruity medieval poetry, WTFINGF.

And what's with that vocalist? Is there a frog stuck in ur throat....? or perhaps ur stuck in A FROG'S THROAT...!!!!! huh? huh?