Nemesis Divina (1997, Century Media)
Lineup: Satyr (guitar, vocals), Kveldulv (keyboards), Frost (drums)
The demonic trio of Norway is back with a vengeance. Long hailed as the premier Black Metal
act from Scandinavia, Satyricon live up to this distinction and then some. This album is a
bit of a departure from their previous work in that keyboards are more subdued in favor of
guitars but other than that, it retains all the brutality and rawness characteristic of the
band. Except Satyricon manage to sound polished as well. This is quite a difference from the
other BM acts that rely on screetching guitars and bad production. "Nemesis Divina" (with an
excellent cover, by the way) oozes atmosphere by the ounce, and it is precisely the band's
ability to create musical landscapes and take the listeners there that makes it such a powerful
entry in the scene.
Verdict: one of the best BM albums of the decade.
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