Customer Reviews

Grand Declaration of War

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

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.

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!

every mayhem release brings something new to the black metal genre and is always different from its preceeding release, and there are only four studio releases for all we know. quite little material indeed and it makes one think how could a band with only four studio releases, define and redefine the genre with every new album they make. Mayhem was surely lacking a lot in musicianship, back in 87 but what they lacked in, they made up for it with the honesty of their music. every time. "Purists" will say what they want and that would only add to their silly attitude. every Mayhem release is hair raising in its own right and Grand Declaration... is no different. The techno arrangements on track 7 makes this section of the album 10 times blacker an nihilistic. the band improves in songwriting and musicianship with every new studio effort and i can never get enough of the maniac's twisted philosophical preachings on 'view from nihil', while the rest of the band unleashes a nuclear holocaust pulling forth from the guitar, bass and drums and spilling from your sound system's tortured speakers. some would laugh if i said that mayhem's music is emotional (at least for me). other simply wouldnt understand. on this album they have created a gripping post nuclear war atmosphere (especially when the 200mph double bass drumming abruptly ceases and you're left with a void like you're the only one left to witness the oppressing nothingness around you) and the listener is left to imagine the wrenching demise of humanity and its tinny beliefs. a very controversial release which i felt i had to review after listening to it for nearly 3 years now. I've been listening to all kinds of extreme metal since 1993 and based on my modest experience i've come to understand that "purist" is another term for "narrow-minded". my music collection includes the blackest of black metal (graveland, ildjarn, mayhem, darkthrone...) along with mainstream artists that are definitely worth a listen (loreena mckennitt, lustmord, mortiis, tori amos...). Let's return to our review for now and highly recommend you mayhem's latest; this is intelligent music done by musicians in constant maturity. all hail!

With the haunting "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas" album and the infamous "Deathcrush"-EP, Mayhem set the style for other black metal bands to follow. When Mayhem return in the year 2000, they return to forever change the way we think about black metal again. And they succeed!

I have heard a lot of people complaining about this album, mostly because it doesn't sound like the old material. Is that really surprising? Two of the old members are dead, and it's been a million years since the realease of "Deathcrush" (or at least so it seems) - so why assume they would sound the same? Have Slayer recorded "Reign In Blood" over and over again? No, they progressed. So have Mayhem.

This is probably my favorite record from 2000, and one of my top ten all-time favorites. Instead of ultra-fast, super-brutal white noise we are offered a fantastic blend of pounding drums, menacing guitars and frightening vocals - but in a modern way. Just buy it and you'll know what I mean. Simply fantastic.

I got this right after it came out last year and was BLOWN AWAY! This album is superb! It tells of a war in rebellion to the ideals imposed on individuals by society (could THAT be a possible start for WWIII?) and the sftermath of that war. What could have been a pretentious "look how sophisticated WE are" concept album is actually backed up by equally sophisticated music and lyrics. An intense listen, overall, and Mayhem's best (In my opinion!). For all those who gripe about the non "trueness" of this release, shut up! I could take my four track and make a "true" album (and probably get distro on...labels like No Colours) in a day or two. Stuff this good takes thought and planning. For those into the "evil" aspect of BM, there is plenty to find here (if you look below the surface) and for those into intelligent, genre-bending music, look no furthur! Mayhem have succeeded where many have failed... They have made a totally modern (post-modern?) album of fantastic dimensions and fantastic content. The best of 2000?

This is pretty different than your typical black metal. Not like the old mayhem, maybe its due to only having one of the original members. the drumming is heavy on the snare, almost millitary like. sometimes they use spoken word, sometimes they "sing". not as good as old mayhem, but good none the less.

It's hard to describe and to make honour to this modern brutal masterpiece, Mayhem has evoled.. since it's ''new'' line up.. the band got more and more technical... its not diferent this time...after all the stuff you all know.. (suicide , murder, church burnings , cannibalist etc)the originators of the true Norwegian Black Metal are back with this wonderfully technical and ideologicaly innovative album... Hellhammer's drummer is ''just'' the BEST I've ever listened to in metal... the variety is killer, the speed is unbelievable,I mean.. he got 100 times better in some years (not ''only 10X as someone said) in guitars... there he is.. BLASPHEMER (ex-Aura Noir) the guy who follows Hellhammer's technique in this records... vrey catchy riffs and top speed and precision, Necrobutcher is still handling the bass pretty well and Maniac... he is the crazy [one] behind the fantastic speech moments and in the possessed classic ones too... he is trully ManiaC , in the end Ill give it 5 stars for it's innovation and fantastic precision, all hail the new (old) Mayhem!

I'm surprised the guitarist can even keep up with Hellhammer. Maybe thats why their fastest tracks are the shortest. I swear, in In the Lies Whereupon You Lay, at almost precisely 1:05 the double kicks DOUBLE in speed! Just for a moment, and then its gone. I've never heard faster or more aggressive drumming/guitar work EVER. When Hellhammer is doing alot of his blasts, he seems to be twirlling the kicks like t-t-t-t-t-t  t-t-t-t-t-t  t-t-t-t-t-t  t-t-t-t-t-t 6 kicks for every snare hit! I've Never heard another drummer do that, and i probably wont. Unbelievable! If you want a real showcase of Hellhammer's speed, this is it. The guitars are ultra-tight and zoom right along with the kicks--you'd think these guys were possessed by true Speed Demons.
--------------------------
Also check out WINDS (B000063DJ1) for a much different sounding Hellhammer, much more technical and brilliant drumwork with a mad-skilled guitarist and a bunch of classical string instruments. Clean vocals, but not dominant, 70% is instrumental i'd say. Get it!

The problem with the above reviews, is that the reviewers seem to only "get" bits and pieces of this masterpiece. "Grand Declaration of War" is exactly what it says, a grand declaration of war. Hellhammer and co. have decided to light the fire underneath the black metal movement, and perhaps attempt to turn it back into the feared and creative force it once was years ago. The beauty of this album is that it is something entirely original in a world where staleness often seems to be the byword. Maniac delivers a dual vocal attack here, utilizing a bold and arrogant-sounding clean voice, and then conversely, vicious spiteful spewings that are some the most evil sounding vocals I've ever heard. The music itself is also quite unpredictable. Mayhem still sounds like Mayhem, but the songs are arranged in such a way they sound like a completely different band at the same time. For most people, it'll probably take a few listens to get used to, but I latched onto this cd right away, and barely listened to anything else for the first week I had it. If you're open-minded and intelligent, you'll love this album right away. But if you're expecting "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas", you're bound to be a bit disappointed at first. But just give it a few listens anyway. It's bound to grow on you. By the way, Hellhammer's drumming has gotten at least 10 times better in the past 7 years. He is one of my top three favorite drummers (the other two being Pete Sandoval and Trym Torson).