Customer Reviews

Rom 5:12

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As soon as I heard the first song I knew this was going to be good. Rom. 5:12 just kept getting better as it went on.
Soon I discovered that Marduk was turning into my favorite black metal band. I don't care what "true" BM thinks. I'm about being true too...to MYSELF.
Meaty AND clear production. A great balance of all the instruments.
The vocals are guttural yes, but mostly discernable. Switching up from lows to highs and then the extremity gives way to actual singing at times, which is unexpected. The delivery is always so appealing to my sense of what it means to be passionate about what you love most. Most times Mortuus sounds like his throat is slashed open. Real gurgled sounding. His vocal style stands out in a genre that sees stand outs less and less.
The bass has always been up in the mix in Marduk's other albums, and this is still pretty much the case here. Solid.
The guitar IS KILLER! Morgan keeps it interesting with the time changes. Some songs are slow. Kinda epic. Marduk are still FAST. No b/s here. Urgent, confrontational and catchy even. I love Morgan's guitar sound. Devastating and clear, executed with brute will and forcefulness. Makes me glad to be a man.
Now the drummer on the slow tracks is a good man. But the guy on the fast stuff is so damn amazing that I could go on and on about how tight, fast and varied the drumming is. Just plain FUN to listen to! Yeah, this album is fun! Highly recommended.

A pleasant listening experience, a very pleasant listening experience. With Marduk you're never quit sure what you'll get: La Grande Danse Macabre, World Funeral, Plague Angel or Panzer Division Marduk. Although the sound may very, you can be sure that buying a Marduk album is buying a one way ticket to HELL. If those Judeo Bible pushers are right, and this will send me to hell, I'm proud to back my bags and be on my way.

From the moment the album starts to moment it finishes, Rom 5:12 is an assault. An assault on your eardrums, an assault on society, and an assault on tradition. This album pounds and pummels you until you can't possibly take anymore, and when it's over, somehow, you push play again. The songs are fast, intense and have lot's of depth. Someway, somehow, after all these years, Marduk manages to gear up and sound fresh all over again. No matter how many times I listen to this album it never gets old. Every time I listen to it (in the headphones) I hear something new: A bell, A whistle, A growl, something.

Bottom Line: This album is a must have. If you're a fan of Marduk, you will not be disappointed. If you're not a fan, this album might make you one, or at least give you a reason to have some Marduk in your collection.

If you claim to know anything about extreme metal, then you know Marduk. They're an influential Swedish black metal quartet that has been terrorizing the neighborhood since the early Nineties with overtly Satanic subject matter, vile vocals, blazing tempos, blistering guitars, and, most famously, breakneck drumming. With that said, do not be too quick to assume that you already know what to expect from their tenth and newest full-length. Marduk's same basic sound may be the same, but "Rom 5:12" also varies the formula a bit by adding a good fair amount of undeniable nuance, depth, tempo variation, and more intelligent, developed songwriting and sophisticated song structures.

There are ten songs presented on this album, and exactly half of them find Marduk stepping outside of their comfort zone and expanding their horizons significantly with new (and dare I say "experimental?") ideas. The first of which, "The Levelling Dust," boasts a good, juicy, mid-tempo, and even quite catchy thrash riff, deft, thumping drums, and extremely vile and acidic vocals from Mortuus, making it a strong opener. Track three, "Imago Mortis," slows the album's pace down considerably with a basic drum beat, slow, slithering, groove-oriented guitar line, and absolutely crawling tempo. Needless to say, it is a terrifically ominous piece, and one that chills the listener to the bone. Next, the brilliant use of a rhythmic, martial drum beat, haunted church-ish organ, and moody, classic-sounding keyboards (which are simultaneously soothing and mildly unsettling) make "1651" equally as dark and spooky. Finally, "Accuser / Opposer" and "Womb of Perishableness" are also both quite restrained, and are backed by fat, churning, stop-start riffs that drone on and on. The former tune is also of note for its strategically-placed use of atmospheric Latin chants (at the end); and the latter for its strong, persistent bass line.

Fear not, though, longtime fans -- the rest of the material on display here is classic Marduk. "Cold Mouth Prayer," which includes guest vocals from former member Joakim Gothberg, is a ferocious, bludgeoning, rip-roaring statement-of-intent. Its surging, searing, wall-of-sound guitars, and furious, pummeling blast beats should fill doctors' offices around the world with patients who need a neck brace. "Through The Belly Of Damnation" (which is highlighted by truly mindblowing hyperblasts), "Limbs Of Worship," "Vanity Of Vanities," and the closing "Voices From Avignon" all follow suit later on by ripping with vengeance and unleashing a murderous, scorched earth attack that is positively skull-crushing. But even these classic Marduk-esque blasters come across as somewhat new and refreshing -- it's clear that the band are as hungry as ever, and it sounds as if they might even have something to prove. As a result, these songs are quite a bit more memorable than what was heard on earlier albums.

"Rom 5:12" is easily Marduk's best and most expansive, accomplished, varied, original, well-rounded, and memorable effort to date. It isn't exactly a groundbreaking album, but it does rank right alongside 2007's finest black metal releases (it's definitely in the top three), and all modern black metal in general. And it sure isn't guaranteed to change the mind of anyone who isn't already a devoted Marduk follower, but all aficionados of the band (and genre) will readily eat it up.

I own every Marduk CD - every one of them - and while I still prefer Legion's vocals over Mortuus, this an amazing album by one of black metal's best acts. It takes a few listens to really sink in, but it's well worth it.

Hailz to Marduk!

This time Marduk hit the nail in the head bigtime. So much so they make up for the 2 previous albums which, if flawed either cohesivesily like ¨World Funeral¨ or sonically like ¨Plague Angel¨ had their very nice moments and enough merit to consider them OK -esp on a live environment like on their terrific ¨Blood Puke Salvation¨ dvd.

Following the current trend of inviting former musicians to play on their albums, there are a former drummer and a singer doing additional vocals on some songs . Sound like it wouldn't work ? Guess again ! It rocks ! Indeed, the drumming harks back to previous Marduk albums although following simpler, sparser, more rock'n roll oriented patterns. Guest vocals are a welcome variation and Mortuus' vocal style kept developing in the form of aspired effects and his voice is now pleasantly higher in the mix, which he was deserving from their debut with the band. He is no longer coaxed to ¨sound like Legion¨ since either he and Devo now contribute to the lyrics, production and arrangements. Morgan has loosened his grip on the rest of the band and it does show in the general sound and atmosphere of the album.

Sonically, it masterfully combines slow and blisteringly fast-paced blastbeat-happy songs -only not abusing either elements- with a lot of a more hardcore-oriented sound, not norsecore, but hardcore-punk.

There is a long, brooding intrumental/orchestral interlude with some Arditi dude ? as guest that provides a respite from the sonic carnage and then the aural attack is mercilessly resumed. ¨Plague Angel¨ had one of these as well.

The booklet deserves a chapter of its own. It's chock full of photos and sinister artwork intercalated with lyrics written in the most unreadable gothic typography I've ever seen, so unless you can make them from the cd, forget about them. It's lavishly laid out and so thick it barely fits the jewel box, even making the cover in my copy to bulge out as if was going to burst out.

The sound, on the other hand, is polished and perfect, it has the terrific bottom end of ¨World Funeral¨ and the sharp upper end of ¨Plague Angel¨ combined, and then some. Sonical bliss if you ask me. I LOVE THIS ALBUM, and it's theor best so far IMHO. Not a return to their roots, mind you, but a return to form.

I for one can't wait till ¨Wormwood comes out. If it's half as good as this one, I'll be in heaven (I mean hell ;-)

I have always enjoyed Marduk. They put the most insanely fast song followed by an evil slow song. They give you a little bit of everything. Rom 5:12 is no different. Now lead singer Mortuus (better than Legion in my opinion) vomits words out of his mouth instead of just the normal Legion growl. Listen to Accuser/Opposer and you will see what I mean. Their trend continues and it continues for the better. Second to Nightwing, this is the best Marduk album. Hails!

This album is excellent, Marduk have done an amazing job. The sound is awesome, the lyrics are great, top notch vox, blistering riffs and jsut pure Black Metal greatness. I am proud to have this album.

Marduk decided it was about time to bring forth something new, and quit repeating their formula of uncontrolled blasphemous speed and blastbeating. There's nothing wrong with it, I'm just pointing out the fact that as artists (and music, as an art, is obviously far greater a concept than black metal itself), of course they can evolve as well.
This album is HUGE, its deadly sound (and the incredible visual content of the massive booklet) simply grabs you with awe like a 14th century plague infested corpse coming out of a forgotten mass grave.
Mortuus vocals are at his most bestial and insane edge as well. BUY IT!

I WAS JUST BLOWN AWAY OF THE FIRST LISTEN TO THE MASTERPIECE.I WAS NOT KNOWING WHAT MARDUK WAS GOING TO PUT OUT THIS TIME? MORTUUS VOKILLS MATCH THE TONE AND FORMAT OF THE ALBUM PERFECTLY! I AM A DIE HARD MARDUK FAN PAST PESENT AND FUTURE,IM SURE LEGION HIMSELF WOULD AGREE THAT THIS CD KICKS MAJOR BLK METAL BUTT TOTALLY...THERE ARE SLOW AND FAST TEMPO TRACKS.AND THIS PROVES ONCE AND FOR ALL THAT MARDUK CAN DO ANYTHING THEY WANT WITH OUT PLAYING 1000S OF MPH TO BE GOOD.THEY RULE LIVE EVERYONE KNOWS THAT.AND THIS NEW RELEASE WILL PUT THE DOUBTERS IN THERE PLACE FOR SURE...AS A DEATH BLK FAN THIS CD WONT DISAPPOINT BUY IT AND ENJOY WHAT PURE BLK METAL AGRESSION AND POWER IS ALL ABOUT....HAILS MARDUK