Sworn to the Dark [Import]

Watain | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 26, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Soma
• ASIN: B000LXIRVA
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #289,331 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

After their critically acclaimed second release "Casus Luciferi" (Album of the Month in Terrorizer) and a successful two-month tour together with Dissection, Watain now present their third Black Metal monolith "Sworn to the Dark".

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Here it is!!! Great "old-timey" black metal!, May 25, 2007

By 

Miss N. Thrope (Leftcoastfogland) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sworn to the Dark (Audio CD)

Anybody tell you that Black Metal was dead recently? Just hand them a copy of this CD.

This one has just about everything I look for when I want to hear REAL black metal. Beautiful dark lush tremolo, tastful and majestic melodic themes soar over deliciously buzzy bass, and that lovely old school mix, done just right. You can hear all the instruments clearly, and all the songs are structured and mixed perfectly.

I can't find a single thing NOT to like. When I listen to this album, I feel the same way I remember feeling while listening to "Storm of the Light's Bane" for the first time. Though some fans might say that this album is a bit too Dissection-like, I would have to slightly dis-agree. First of all, the songs on this album all sound remarkably ORIGINAL to me. If there are comparisons to that of the afore mentioned "Storm..." or "The Somberlain", then it is more to Watain's credit that they were able to reproduce the quality of musicianship and professionalism of production contained within those early Dissection discs. Anyway, it should not be too much of a surprise to anyone, since Watain members E. Danielsson (vocals), and Set Teitan (Guitar and Bass) were both members of aformentioned!

Watain also shows how they can really mix it up. The first song, "Legions of the Black Light" greets you with crushing depressive chords that soon give way to thunderous blast beats that would surely please puppy piles of pitninjas. The intensity ebbs and surges nicely within the song finishing with a georgously rendered tremolo lead.

Many songs on this album will remind you in no uncertain terms where black metal has its origins. Both the first, as well as the second track "Satan's Hunger", is undoubtably Mayhem-homage. Fourth track "Storm of the Antichrist" draws rhythms from mosh-pit thrash and is seriously unrelenting. "The Light that Burns The Sun" is an anthem unto itself, pure darkness, numerous themes intertwining within the song. The arangements are masterfully done, changing tempo in smooth breaks that keep the listener engaged without seeming intrusive.

I also really enjoy how Watain manages to morph dreamy little passages of melody into a cacophanous barrage (Underneith the Cenotaph), or a doomy dirge that would rival anything by Celtic Frost (Stellarvore). Throughout this entire album, I am continually pleased by the luscious, syrupy thick guitar sounds, and the undeniable talent of the musicians. Kudos also to the expressive and well elocuted vocal performance of E. Danielsson.

Black metal has returned, and this album proves it. Still only shy of halfway into the year, I think it very likely that this album will end up making my best of 2007 list.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better than I anticipated!, April 28, 2007

By 

Phillip Simonis (Orange County) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sworn to the Dark (Audio CD)

Sworn to the Dark is their best by far. So far the best black metal I've heard this year. We know that Watain are inspired by old Dissection, and this album is no exception. Usurpers of the throne? Of course, and this totally makes up for Dissection (RIP) last piece of work.

Yes, it's beautifully evil, very well played and it'll get a hell of a lot of

play in your MP3/Car, whatever.

Buy or die!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Black Metal At It's Best., January 7, 2009

By 

darkmoon (oakland, ca) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sworn to the Dark (Audio CD)

There is not a bad song on the album. It's varied, emotional, creative, with excellent musicianship, and beautiful evil journey beginning to end. Atmospheric without relying on keyboards or computers. There is some Dissection influence, but still entirely unique. This is genuine, sinister, satanic black metal with compelling, powerful vocals. It's more cleanly produced than the other albums, which works just fine. This thing has lived in my cd player almost continuously since it first came out. If you haven't heard these guys you really need to.