MARDUK - ROM 5:12 (2007)

On a picture disc vinyl limited to 500 copies released on their own founded record label Blooddawn Productions. Also the original CD release with a 44-page booklet. Guessing the CD has become a collectible, because when I looked at Discogs for facts about the album for this post I saw it sells for between 20 to 40 euro nowadays. There was also a gatefold 2 x LP release of Rom 5:12 limited to 500 copies. As I wrote in my earlier post this album and Wormwood will be reissued on Century Media probably sometime after the release of the new album Viktoria (release June 22nd).

I think Marduk had progressed even more on Rom 5:12 then on their previous album Plague Angel (2004) where they already had made huge changes from the Legion era of the band (1995-2003). This was 2nd album with Daniel "Mortuus” Rostén as their frontman and with Devo Andersson returning to Marduk. In my ears it sounds like Mortuus played a much larger role on the song writing on this album then on the previous one. Even if he only got song writing credit on the two songs Cold Mouth Prayer and Accuser / Opposer.

It wasn't only musically the band changed the artwork and layout was also very different from before. Mortuus has a graphic design company called Holy Poison. He had done some amazing designs and now Marduk got new and much needed artwork designs very equally amazing that his other band Funeral Mist has.

On Rom 5:12 they once again recorded in bassist Devo Andersson’s Endarker Studio  I really enjoy the variation this record have especially when they once again collaborate with the great Swedish martial industrial/ambient Arditi on 1651. But also the song  Accuser / Opposer where A.A. Nemtheanga from the great Irish band Primordial does an amazing guest vocal performance. Also the former vocalist (1993-95) and/drummer (1990-93) Joakim Af Gravf guest on the excellent Cold Mouth Prayer. Other personal favorites are The Leveling Dust; Imago Mortis; Vanity Of Vanities; Womb Of Perishableness; Limbs Of Worship but I could literally mention every song on Rom 5:12 it’s that excellent throughout.

Actually Marduk used 2 different drummers on this album. Former member Emil Dragutinović who played drums with the band since 2002 on their 2 previous records World Funeral (2003); Plague Angel; 2 DVD's; 3 EP's and the live album Warschau (2005) . He had quit the band in November 2006 one month prior to Marduk starting the recording of this album and formed the band Devian with former vocalist Legion.

So he's only a session musician and according to a news post on Blabbermouth at the time I quote: "has agreed to perform on the new CD as a session musician (but only "if he gets paid upfront)". He played on 6 of the 10 songs.

The drummer Jens Gustavsson (1974-2013) played on 3 songs. He had played with bassist Devo in a "stoner rock band" called Dear Mutant. He was later a member of the Doom Metal band Griftegård until his death only at 38 years old in 2013. The band recruited Lars Broddesson as a permanent member and drummer for the tour and was with Marduk until 2013.

I always had a hard time deciding between Rom 5:12 or Plague Angel as the best album Marduk have recorded during the Mortuus era. It would make it my 3rd favorite Marduk full length album of all time. When I ranked their albums a year ago I chose Rom 5:12 it's probably not important for somebody other then me. Both album are however a most haves if you're into the Black Metal scene.

Could see if some people are somewhat indecisive about Rom 5:12 greatness. It’s of course not your typical commercial, easy listening or background music kind of album (not like any Marduk album is like that). But it's different from their other records released before this one for sure. Your complete attention is demanded to fully comprehend and hear the fine work of Black Metal art this true masterpiece delivers. For me this is one of the best albums of this century.

“Därför är det så: Genom en enda människa har synden kommit in i världen och genom synden döden; och så har döden kommit över alla människor, eftersom de alla hava syndat”
Romarbrevet 5:12. Praise hail Marduk!!