[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdXx0A1sugI[/youtube]
Metal Insider contributor Anthony Maisano is listening to a different metal album that was released on that day every day this year.
With this album, Quorthon created black metal. This is another album that, like it or dislike it, paved the way for countless bands and styles of metal that came after it. Quorthon’s riffs, even on this debut album are just sweet. His vocals are distinct, as is his songwriting. This is another case that, even for the first, bands doing black metal today can learn from this album. Musically, lyrically, and thematically, this album is not only good, but also insanely important for the history of metal. There really isn’t a bad song on this album, either.
It may seem like it comes par for the course for black metal, but the production on this album is, understandably, but still, terrible. The drum production in particular is almost non-existent. There have been debut demos from bands in the 80’s that had better production than this album. And yes, obviously, singing about occult things in ’84 wouldn’t land anyone good production, especially for a debut album, but it’s particularly bad. The drums in general are quite repetitive, too. Even going beyond just the production, they are boring.
Favorite Tracks: “Necromansy,” “Sacrifice,” “Raise the Dead.”
Basically, if you like black metal, and you can get past dreadful production, which, if you like black metal, you probably can, there’s little to dislike about this album. The riffs in particular are great. It’s a legendary album, and if you like extreme metal in any form, you should give this one at least one listen. There’s a reason this helped extreme metal, and has as much influence as it does. Check it out.
