Sworn to the Dark - Gothic Fashion for Nightlife & Concerts

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.