In Sorte Diaboli - Dimmu Borgir

This is the first album, I'm reviewing, by Melodic Black Metal band Dimmu Borgir. I was kind of afraid to listen to them at first when I originally heard of them. The reason was because I was like 14 and they worshiped Satan. Well with the help of Burzum and good old Frankie Z I can overlook that. I'm secure enough with my religion to where I do not feel that these guys will shake my faith. This is their 8th full length studio album, and from what I've read, their first concept album. The concept being a priest's assistant who begins to doubt his faith and eventually discovers he has nothing to do with Christianity. Also it takes place in Medieval Europe. Since picking this review I've heard the much better Enthrone Darkness Triumphant and Spiritual Black Dimensions, but I figured finish this for Halloween month..... get it over with you know.

1. The Serpentine Offering: I think this beginning reminds me, personally, of Symphony X but more symphonic. Like they used a real orchestra I'm betting in the intro. The beginning of the track is promising and I don't really think there is anything to complain about yet. I like the section after this that sounds kinda punky. I mean not punk, but I could see what they were doing being done in a punk track. I also dig, of course, Hellhammer's "programmed" drums. Also nice clean vocals.
2. The Chosen Legacy: I think the best part of this song, honestly, is the drums. I mean in the last track they were just kinda fast, but here there is different rhythms going on. It's really sick to hear. I'd buy a copy of this with just isolated drums/percussion. I mean seriously, there are Terry Bozzio type drums on speed.
3. The Conspiracy Unfolds: I think this might be the song that I heard the first time I heard any songs by they. I do really like the choir here, and I really think they did a nice job with that when it comes in. I also like the riffs that remind me of As I Lay Dying, just heavier. This actually, at parts, reminds me of As I Lay Dying on maybe An Ocean Between Us or Awakened. I mean this is heavier at parts, but still. It's got a lot of similar parts to that of a track by them.
4. The Sacrilegious Scorn: I love the cheesy, sorta, sounding synths in this track. The best part here is the clean vocals on the track. I like they way the accent of I.C.X. Vortex sings with. Now I bet that's his natural accent but I still like it. I also dig that piano part, though I wish it lasted a bit longer than like 5 seconds. I also like the harmony guitars here, that last only a few seconds.
5. The Fallen Arises: This is basically an interlude, that is made up of the stereotypical symphonic metal stuff. Orchestra, voice and you know I am not complaining. I actually dig this, I just wish it was more grand. Like a full blown orchestral composition rather than just an interlude.
6. The Sinister Awakening: This starts out promising, but I don't know.... I kinda loose interest in the track. I mean there isn't a whole lot new happening here. 
7. The Fundamental Alienation: This again starts with an orchestral opening, and goes into the track. I mean I like the story, I get it. But I don't think this is that great variety wise. By this point the whole stick of the style on this has grown old a bit.
8. The Invaluable Darkness: Maybe if they even threw in a guitar solo that'd make this cooler you know. I am glad they added the clean vocals again in this track. That seems to make things better, for me. I mean I like Shagrath don't get me wrong, but it's nice to not have the same thing throughout. One thing that's nice about Aerosmith in the 70s. Joe Perry would sing lead on occasion and it's not the same voice for everything.
9. The Foreshadowing Furnace: Closing the album we start with some dissonant strings and guitar. Those strings got me excited for what was to come. And I mean, I have to admit..... I was kinda bummed. There was so many parts where a solo, of any type, would make the song more powerful. I mean something as simple as the sinister riff in Pray for Plagues or anything. The guitar isn't Satanic enough. This is the ending, and according to what I read the assistant became the Antichrist. This sounds be Evil as fuck.... yet it is barley any eviler (not sure if that's a real word, or if the grammar is used properly) than any of the prior tracks. I feel like Bring Me The Horizon's debut is sonically closer to Satan than this ending. I mean maybe it's not their style to be as evil as possible, but still..... I was kinda disappointed.

Overall I have to give this a 5/10. I think that, out of the few albums by theses guys I've heard this is probably one of them where it more repeats its self. I mean at least past records still bring something interesting, this is just more interesting in the "the drums are different, that's a plus." It's not even close to a plus..... if that's a plus to you, then you need to listen to more music and broaden your horizons because you're kinda closed minded. But seriously there are bursts of things I think would sound neat on some tracks, then they end it before I can even really enjoy it. It's almost like a reverse Naked City, let's take the most interesting parts and have them last the shortest, and have the less interesting parts play under neath the bursts of interesting parts. I think theses guys should listen to Torture Garden, Radio or even Disco Volante. Maybe they'd get more ideas. But at the end of the day, I'd play this specific record if I just need something to listen to in order to fill dead air. I mean that isn't bad, that's what I do with just about every comedy(stand up) record I've heard. I mean I like the sound, just as a whole I don't think it's as good as it can be. Thought I often run in to this problem with the Symphonic Black or any Symphonic Metal. Also hopefully tomorrow as very special review will be complete. Cross my fingers.

If you have any advice on better records that are more interesting and exciting in the style can you give me a post and tell me the record, I'll check it out. I mean in theory Symphonic Metal is awesome, but I can't really say I've heard anything that's lived up to what think it can be. Thought I'm one person, but still... Open to suggestions

Umskiptar - Burzum

This is the newest album by Black Metal artist Varg Vikernes project Burzum. I did a review of his 2011 album Fallen back in February of this year. I really liked that album a lot, and when I saw that this came out I was excited to hear it for the first time. Well I guess this is a return to his roots, as I read in a article about this. I don't understand because this sounded a ton like the last album. So another mention is that the Wikipedia article said that this is Folk Metal, Black Metal, Folk Rock. I don't know what Folk Metal is but if it exists it is probably from Scandinavia.

1. Blóðstokkinn: This song is just a song where he talks with atmospheric stuff going on. It sounds like the beginning of Til Hel og tilbake igjen off his last album Fallen, but with out that piano things.
2. Jóln: This sounds like it is more singing than the raspy screams on Fallen. This music sounds like it is the same, for the most part. This song is ok, but if this is the way the album is going to be, then I don't thing that it will go over well on the score I give it.
3. Alfadanz: This song has a piano to start the song, then goes into a riff. I still has him whispering, like the last album. This song is 9:34 and it is kind of hard to keep my attention the first time through. Mainly because I feel like I heard the song writing setup. This song isn't a good feeling for the rest of the album. There is a piano solo in there where it sounds like the piano in the song Not Ready to Die or the piano for Nazi Zombies in the video game Call of Duty: Black Ops. But it also has this classical feeling to it. After this plays he whispers over it. Then when it is done the song returns to it's original melody. That part was really cool. It's just the rest of the song didn't thrill me, and that part didn't do enough.
4. Hit helga Tré: This song is ok too. I don't really think that this album is as good as Fallen. I keep hearing him say Allah. I know he's not saying that, but it's kind of funny to look for the funniness in this album. Because that way it will be more enjoyable.
5. Æra: Guess what this sounds like....
6. Heiðr: .............................
7. Valgaldr: The very beginning of this song sounded interesting, but then he finished up the riff. That ruined the song for me.
8. Galgviðr: 8 minutes, 8 minutes of basically nothing, Hell No!
9. Surtr Sunnan: Nothings Special Here
10. Gullaldr: This is like a lame Budstikken. Enough Said
11. Níðhöggr: This is more of an atmospheric feeling to the last song on Fallen. Nothing special here.

Overall I have to give this album a 4.2/10. This album is just under 20 minutes longer than Fallen, and it sounded a ton like Fallen. This album is pretty much the same set up to as Fallen, but with a couple more tracks on this than Fallen. Like seriously, if he released this at the same time as Fallen it probably would have been over kill, so to say. I like that he waited to release this. The thing to about it is that they weren't ever recorded at the same time as each other. It was ok, but it. I feel like if I heard this first I might have liked this over Fallen. I don't know, but its just a though. So to rap this up its Fallen, but with an extra 20 minutes of overkill, and not in a good way. I'm probably never listening to this album again.

Fallen - Burzum

The first time I actually heard anything off this album was yesterday. Now I'm not huge into this whole ideas and beliefs of Norwegian Black Metal Bands. And another thing is that I also don't know much about Black Metal. So you have to cut me slack if I'm not explaining this super in depth. I'm just gonna give my opinion of my listen to it. I have listened to this album a total of 2 times, not front to back though, but still in order and not interrupted.

1. Fraverdenstreet: The intro to this album is an song that is a minute long and sounds like, in my opinion, Hot Poop. Yes the Frank Zappa song off We're Only In It For The Money back from when he was with The Mothers of Invention in 1968, so that's not a bad start off to an album I'd have to say. That Zappa album is one of my favorite of all time and I'll do a review of it soon hopefully. It also sounds like there is air or a fire or some type of waterfall in the background.
2. Jeg faller: The intro is an awesome riff. The music sound sick. Now I have no idea what he is saying but it sounds good. I know that on this album there is some type of Pagan or Racism aspect to some of the lyrics.  The part where he starts talking sounds like he is speaking french. Whats going on in the background instrumentation wise while he talks and in between that whispering is good. I love that he double tracked whispers with spoken words. And the chorus harmony vocals are like a choir but with heavy pounding bass, drums, and guitar. The double bass pedal at the fade is also pretty cool
3. Valen: The intro reminds me, instrumentation, reminds me of a Van Halen song. I wonder why I'd think that? But seriously this song is actually pretty good. And the riffs are pretty cool. I think that this song is probably not my absolute favorite, but that's because this one seems to drag. But then again I'm not a huge Van Halen fan, (Self titled, Van Halen II, 1984, and various other songs.) 
4. Vanvidd: This song sounds like it can be a continuation of Valen, except at bout 3:40 when he starts to sound like he's getting murdered. It reminds me of a vampire and Halloween, or an old school vampire movie. Another thing is I can barley hear the bass. I think it's funny at like the last 30 seconds it sounds like he saying Fester. That's my little brothers nickname. This song also dragged a little the second time around
5. Enhver til sitt: This song is the one in particular that reminds me of Metalocalypse type of song, just longer. The intro riff reminds me of the one from Black Sabbath's song Black Sabbath. The song is pretty much on a loop with no changes, except at like 3:48 where there is a new riff added in and everything else stops. The it picks up and fades out to him whispering and as the song fades you can pick out the instruments out better that any other time in the song. That has probably the longest fade I've ever heard, excluding the 12 hours of the 24 hour long 7 Skies H3 by The Flaming Lips.
6. Budstikken: I've listened to this song more that 10 times in the past 2 days. That's not really much but this song is awesome, minus the lyrical content. The guitar and bass and drums make me want to play along, and then comes the 1:19 mark which brings the Iron Maiden esque riff. That is the same way with this entire album but more so on this track. This is no question asked my favorite song. The intro riff is what hooked me and the the verse Iron Maiden/Judas Priest power to it. I don't like Judas Priest's live presence, at least since Rob quit in the 90's, which I am aware he is back but K.K. Downings is out. (I had to put his last name to avoid any type of lyrical promotion that might be used against me, and for the record I'm not racist). The spoken choruses are another thing that reminds me of a type of, well to me, welcoming feel to it. The clarity of this song against the rest of the album is another bonus. And the drums and takes over, but not so much that you can't heard everything else. And the time the bass is most prominent is at 6:30ish. Which the bass riff is awesome in general.The ending power chord adds to its effect.
7. Til Hel og tilbake igjen: To end this album there is a 5 minute ambient song. It reminds me of a Lumpy Gravy or something that would be an interlude on the songs that were on the Läther album by FZ. It also kind of reminds me of Narcosis by Tomahawk, the final track on one of my favorite albums ever, conceptually and sound wise, that album being their self titled album. It also at about 2:10 sounds like there is a lot more open space on this than the rest of that album, and at about 2:40 the Hot Poop like whispers come into effect again. Which Frank played the track backwards to get that weird effect, and since he's speaking in possible Norwegian language at this part I don't know what he's saying. At about 4:00 minutes it reminds me of the Tomahawk's third album titled Anonymous which is cut off at 4:45ish by a distorted music box sounding guitar. The second time through it somewhat reminds me of something Edgar Varese. It also sounds like a guy dragging a stick along a piano strings.

Over all I like this a lot, I think like an 8.75/10, but a 9 would be kind of pushing it. Something I noticed thought is that all the songs, proper songs, are about 7+ minutes long. That doesn't take away from the album but just because I love it now doesn't mean I always will. Especially since it repeats so much. The funny part about this album is it gives me the feeling of some old man in a temple and screaming and talking. but his screams make me think of an old man/Golem  taking a crap. By that I mean it sounds awesome and sick for this old mans crapping. I also feel that this isn't that intense, but that probably because of the mixing. It also sounds like it was recorded with that temple vibe in the background. I love that it came out in March because it reminds me of a beginning of spring feel. It also gives me an Iron Maiden vibe to it and a more pulled out version of a Metalocalypse song, kind of. The one more quick bad thing about listening to this front to back was waiting for the 6th track The Message, though all the other songs were good. And it seems that the rhythm guitar is looped through the whole thing I'm buying this CD. I'm curious to see how long I'll be able to listen to this album without getting bored