Grand Declaration of War [Import]

Mayhem | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 20, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Seaso
• ASIN: B00004T0TZ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #239,703 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Black metal legends Mayhem's second album, originally released in 2000. This album is very experimental, incorporating electronic and industrial elements, and other effects, along with black metal elements. Very Limited Edition Of Only 250 Copies. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply put, it's a masterpiece..., November 15, 2000

By 

Ken (Youngsville, LA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Grand Declaration Of War (Audio CD)

99.9% of the people who hear this CD are going to be surprised... no matter if you've heard Mayhem before or not. The main concern is whether or not you'll listen to it with an open mind. Mayhem has been pacifying & pleasing the scene with their "trueness" for eons now, due largely in part to the fact that they were the band that actually defined the sound of what we now call Black Metal. "Grand Declaration of War" is the sound of Mayhem recreating Black Metal all over again. Will you appreciate the fact that these songs are technical, not monotonous? Will you appreciate the fact that the vocals are varied with each song (and often run through artificial effects) to accentuate the themes rather than screeched in the same old "black metal" ™ format on every line? Will you appreciate the fact that not every song is as fast as humanly possible (despite the fact that Hellhammer pushes himself to new extremes here on some tracks)? Will you appreciate the fact that the immediate post-war track has a drum machine to accentuate its meaning? See, you have to remember something here: this release is a concept album - they have chronicled WWIII and its aftermath. Some of it is bleak and cold and haunting and downright frightening... all in an effort to fulfill the concept. You can't portray that mood by playing 666 MPH for 35 minutes straight. Once you understand that, every nuance and twist you hear will make sense. Even the CD booklet follows the concept between the lyrics and the art. This is Mayhem's profound and impeccable statement to the Black Metal world, and I think it's one of the best releases I've ever heard, no matter what genre. Out of five stars, I give it a ten. Period.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best albums ever recorded, February 18, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Grand Declaration Of War (Audio CD)

This is truly is a masterpiece concept album that explores several genres of music, not just black metal.
Too complex for most people to understand and that is what Mayhem really stands for - separating the idiots from the intellectuals.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Back From The Dark Past.... with a vengeance!!, April 30, 2001

By 

[e-mail] (Denmark) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Grand Declaration Of War (Audio CD)

Basically there are 3 types of Mayhem fans:

1: Those who loved "Deathcrush" and "De Mysteriis dom Sathanas", but think Dead and Euronymous were so integral parts of the original Mayhem sound, that the band should have packed it in after "De Mysteriis..."

2: Those who loved "Deathcrush" and "De Mysteriis dom Sathanas", and want a "De Mysteriis dom Sathanas, Volume II", i.e. a Mayhem not progressing, but sticking to their Black Metal Roots..

3: Those who anxiously awaits ANY new Mayhem release with an open mind and the willingness to listen without preconcieved notions, other than expecting great music.

"A Grand Declaration of War" will certainly disappoint the two first categories, but those, like me, that belongs to the latter category will be more than pleased!!

Sure this release has a crystalline production, processed vocal parts, electronica-elements and propaganda-type shouted vocals in places, but it still contain lots furious Black Metal parts full of hyper-speed double-bass drumming, contorted riffs and shreiking vocals to keep the most hard-core Black Metal fan on his toes...

But as said, a minimum of musical openness is required to fully appreciate "A Grand Declaration of War", which unfortunately not all Black Metal fans are capable of...

"A Grand Declaration of War", like all great albums, grows with each repeated listening, and along with bands as Solefald, Arcturus, Emperor, Satyricon, Limbonic Art and Thorns, Mayhem is taking Black Metal in exiting new directions...

If you do not agree, you can always go back to your Burzum records....But leave me out of it, please!