Customer Reviews

Sworn to the Dark

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

So if you at all interested in the area black metal please purchase this album. In all honesty one of the most fulfilling albums i have bought in the past few years. I could not express how influenced by this album i was when i first heard and it has been in heavy rotation ever since. Watain creates an atmosphere that i find myself immersed in, not many bands have this ability to draw you in so well. Not a single track i do not enjoy on this album. Dark, heavy, and at times melodic but all with a sinister sense of doom surrounding it.

All I'll say is it's nice to listen to a black metal band that puts as much effort into their music as they do into their ideologies. The majority of black metal bands are so busy trying to be scary and grotesque that they forget there's actually songs involved. Watain actually take the time to craft songs that will resonate for a long time to come.

If your into BM give this on a try. They are not as heavy as bands like Marduk,Craft or as light as dissection, but sound a bit like dissection. I would give this a solid 3 1/2 maybe a bit higher if so many other good CDs had not just now came out. u can check them out on myspace if u google their name

watain is an amazing bm band. not only do they manage to keep true to the old bm roots, but bring something new and exciting to the genre. ture black metal to the core

This album IS one of the greatest OF ALL TIMES. You are not a bmh unless you own this. Five Stars easily. YOU WILL LOVE THIS ALBUM.

im not into black metal but this cd is pretty cool and the lyrics are so evil that my soul now feels tainted from listening to this cd

watain's music is sheer mediocrity in every aspect. no metal band has ever got so much credit for doing so little. there isn't a fraction of originality anywhere in their sound and they're barely competent musicians. they don't even have the lo-fi atmospheric production most new school black metal bands use to disguise their poor musicianship. if they at least had some atmosphere in their production i would get it, but they don't, they have nothing. are they supposed to sound like motorhead? is that the point? because if it is they do it well, but it's so easy to do, and the reason other black metal bands aren't doing it is because they're exercising some limited creativity, trying to make their guitars more buzzing or their vocals more piercing or their drums more clattering, superficial goals but it's at least more than this band is doing.