MAYHEM - LIVE IN LEIPZIG (1993)

On a digipack CD released on the Italian label Avantgarde Music from 1996.

This was actually the first official Black Metal live album that I ever bought in the 90’s. Remember mailordering this and Transilvanian Hunger (1994) by Darkthrone from either TPL or Dolores (clearly remember it wasn't Sound Pollution) because neither of those CD's were to be be found in my hometown at the time. Like most all other Avantgarde Music releases, so when it arrived it was a great package that's for sure.

It would also be the first time that I ever heard the legendary Dead on vocals with Mayhem. So my expectations were astronomical high on the Live In Leipzig album and especially on the vocals. This was recorded on the 26th of November in 1990 at the Eiskeller Club located in Leipzig, Germany.

Some might not like the sound quality but I had been hardened by a bunch of bootleg VHS-tapes with live recordings of Dissection, Emperor, Marduk, Dismember etc.

However the first couple of listens it actually didn’t blow me away. Sure it was great to hear songs I hadn’t heard before like the amazing Deathcrush, Carnage, Chainsaw Gutsfuck, Pure Fucking Armageddon and Necrolust etc because I didn't own a version of the Deathcrush (1987) EP back then. But soon I realized just how amazing this record was and the brilliant vocals by Dead.

I of course owned De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas (1994) and Attila Csihar’s performance on that record was so divided in the scene all throughout the 90’s by fans, musicians & journalists. It was almost like you had to make a choice back then.

Although Dead’s vocals were amazing the performance by Attila on De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas was (and is still) the best vocal performance I ever heard on any record.

This isn’t a Dead vs Attila post and I’m not putting down Dead. His contribution on Live In Leipzig is in fact astonishing and Dead’s impact on the scene have been well established. I mean how many releases with Mayhem live and rehearsals recordings is out by now? They wouldn't exist if it weren't an interest for the classic lineup with Dead, Euronymous, Necrobutcher and Hellhammer.

This live recording had been spread around in the scene as early as 1991. The first official release of Live In Leipzig was actually only available on LP in 1993 released on the Italian label Obscure Plasma Records that became Avantgarde Music. That release also included the only studio work by Mayhem with Dead on vocals Carnage and Freezing Moon. On the spine it was written “... The scene was DEAD...the scene is dead...”.

It was released on CD in 1994 in 3 different versions but without the studio versions of Carnage and Freezing Moon. I really like my digipack but any of those releases are on my wanted list especially the vinyl. I’m by no means an expert on Mayhem bootlegs and all their releases except for the most known ones. But I could see those CD's and also the LP  being very common for being fake ones. Or am I wrong?

Anyway this classic release is a most own album to have in any serious Black Metal collection in my opinion.

MARDUK - PANZER DIVISION LIVE (2018) Tank Shaped EP

Limited and handnumbered to 500 copies. Released on Blooddawn Productions and made by the Italian label Night Of The Vinyl Dead Records.

Once again I have all the official Marduk EP’s because I finally got a "good deal" on the Panzer Division Live tank shaped vinyl EP. By owning every EP I mean every release. Not every print version they have ever released of them. You should know I’m crazy but not that crazy!

The EP have 2 songs Panzer Division Marduk & Baptism By Fire recorded live in Hamburg, Germany 1999. Those songs have been available on various Marduk releases already. Like the box set Blackcrowned (2002) on the CD’s and also on the VHS that's included in that box.

They also appear on 2 of the 4 Blackcrowned vinyls from 2002, the standalone Blackcrowned DVD released in 2005 and the official live bootleg album World Panzer Battle 1999 from 2015.

My guess is that people mostly bought this tank shaped EP as a display piece because of its very unique design. I don’t care about devaluing it and put the whole thing together.

Because it’s NOT leaving my Marduk collection! It’s meant to be displayed for me and everyone else viewing pleasure that dares enter my domain. Also got it because I want every Marduk EP they’ve ever release.

As far as I know it was sold exclusively through the Nuclear Blast onlinstore and although I’m subscribed to their newsletter I completely missed this EP when it was released. It had been announced on the official Marduk Facebook page. They should’ve announced it on Instagram and/or their official website. Who the hell uses Facebook? Fuck that shit!

Anyway I'm really glad to finally have it in my collection although it would’ve been great with some more exclusive songs. 2 songs recorded live from the Frontschwein (2015) album would have been really enjoyable. Even if I didn’t buy the EP mainly for its music.

Even if I got the EP for about 150 SEK cheaper then for what it sells for on Discogs (with shipping within Sweden) I wasn’t willing to be patience and wait out another better deal. Who knows maybe the Panzer Division Live EP will be cheaper in the future? But I wasn't willing to take the risk it getting even higher then it already is going for nowadays.

And as always Praise Hail Marduk!!

SUMMONING - WITH DOOM WE COME (2018)

On a 2 x gatefold vinyl released on Napalm Records.

This was actually the first album that I bought in 2018 but on CD. As you can see in the picture I always buy the Summoning albums on CD and I'm a man of habit. But this record was so amazing that I thought it would be nice to own at least one Summoning LP.

If you check my posts you should know that I do enjoy vinyls. Does this mean that I'll pick up all their other albums and EP's by the band on vinyl? Well maybe my favorites like Minas Morgul (1995); Dol Guldur (1997) and also the EP Nightshade Forests (1997). Although those are very expensive nowadays I probably try and wait out a good deal for those because I'm in no hurry anyway.

But about With Doom We Come this was the 8th full length album by Summoning during their 25 years of existence. Can easily say it's their best album in 17 years. Going back as far as Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame (2001) to find an equally amazing album.

My story with the band is much thanks to 4 things. The amazing ads that Napalm Records put out for their 90's albums in magazines and fanzines. The beautiful front cover artwork to each release. Also me being a very big fan of J.R.R. Tolkien's books that I read ever since 1993/94 when I was 14 years. But the biggest fact of me blind buying Minas Morgul in 1996 was that one of the two members of the band Silenius (vocals, keyboard, bass) also was vocalist in another brilliant Austrian band I had discovered that year Abigor.

With With Doom We Come it's not like Summoning changed anything or invented the wheel. Silenius and Protector just wrote the best songs they have written in 17 years. I can say for sure that With Doom We Come will be on my top-9 records when this year will be summarized and it will land at a very high place on my list.

I've been listening to Summoning very much lately because their music is very fitting for when the Swedish autumn in knocking on the door. When I was a youth 15-20 years and was so totally into Black Metal scene I despised the summer. I couldn't wait for the darkness of autumn, the snow and coldness of winter.

Snø Og Granskog by Darkthrone from their 1995 album Panzerfaust was a song I would always play in my cassette-tape Sony Walkman while enjoying the Black Metal weather. So fucking juvenile thinking about it now. But that's how teenagers think or at least me and my friends back then.

With age I now just think it's a hassle. Getting to work in the pouring rain or with 10-20 cm of freshly fallen snow isn't exactly me thinking how Black Metal it is nowadays. Guess I'm not "true" anymore me being 38 years old...

Anyway enjoy Summoning and With Doom We Come now with the light vanishing and the darkness coming.

Praise hail summer!!

DEATHSPELL OMEGA TIMES TWO

Fas - Ite, Maledicti, In Ignem Aeternum (2007) first print vinyl on Norma Evangelium Diaboli that comes with a poster (approx 60 cm x 60 cm) plus a 20-page booklet.

Paracletus (2010) a reissue vinyl release on Norma Evangelium Diaboli from 2017 it comes with an amazing 16-paged booklet. The design of this release is so beautiful just like Si Monvmentvm Reqvires, Circvmspice (2004) they really put effort into this one. Wished that it came with a poster the 1st print doesn't come with one either and this release is designed completely the same as that one.

After this French (later also Finnish) band released one of the best albums of this century the masterpiece Si Monvmentvm Reqvires, Circvmspice). One could say that Deathspell Omega had a monumental task to try and follow up such an amazing and brilliant record.

Did they do that with these albums? Boring answer but both yes and no. They did great but I still think that their Si Monvmentvm Reqvires, Circvmspice is the bands finest work. By far I would even say.

I know journalists and people say that record changed the Black Metal scene I don't necessarily agree completely with that. Sure it made a big impact but I could say the same about Funeral Mist with what I consider to be a better album Salvation (2003). I'll save that whole topic for another post...

These are the 2nd and 3rd concept albums in their trilogy about Satan, God and Man. In between the two there was a ton of EP’s, compilations and split releases. All of varied quality in my opinion some great, some not so good.

Fas - Ite, Maledicti, In Ignem Aeternum is for me the weakest if I was to compare all 3 of those albums. The format is somewhat different from the Si Monvmentvm Reqvires, Circvmspice album, it's only on one vinyl instead of two. It's way shorter only 46 min 16 sec compared to 77 min the just mentioned album was and have 6 songs instead of 13 songs. There's 3 songs that are approx 9-11 min long.

The formula for the Fas - Ite, Maledicti, In Ignem Aeternum album is still a continuation of what they started on the previous album in the trilogy. It's certainly the hardest one of those albums to fully understand, it took many listens before I realized how good it really is. It's not an easy listening album that's for sure.

The Paracletus album was released 3 years after the Fas - Ite, Maledicti, In Ignem Aeternum album. It’s about 35 min shorter then Si Monvmentvm Reqvires, Circvmspice have 10 songs and the longest one being just 7 min. The average song is shorter.

With the Paracletus release I think they did a more "comprehensible" (for lack of a better word) album then they did on the Fas - Ite, Maledicti, In Ignem Aeternum album. It's a lot more approachable and is in my opinion the better of the two. Not saying that it's an easy listening commercial Black Metal album because it does challenge you.

To describe Deathspell Omega music is very hard or any music for that matter. But with their music it’s better you experience it for yourself. I don’t listen to these 2 albums very often like I do with Si Monvmentvm Reqvires, Circvmspice. But when I'm in the right mood and the surroundings are right they’re fucking amazing.

However I would place their second full length the criminally underrated Inquisitors Of Satan (2002) album that was released before Mikko Aspa joined the band and also the Drought (2012) EP over these two.

If I was to recommend Deathspell Omega to any newcomer. Start with Si Monvmentvm Reqvires, Circvmspice and give it time, you probably won’t understand the complete essence of its greatness until at least a couple of listenings. The surroundings also plays into it.

Not to get too philosophical and shit but you probably won’t get it on a beach in the Mediterranean during a holiday with a Piña Colada (or my favorite Screwdriver) at your side. Some might though who am I to judge or know?

Anyway two albums that definitely have a place in Black Metal history. I think that everyone into this genre should at least have an opinion about them.

DISMEMBER - MASSIVE KILLING CAPACITY (1995)

Here on a 1st print vinyl released on Nuclear Blast in 1995. See my massive poster (approx 120 cm x 85 cm) included their 3-song MCD Casket Garden from 1995 for size comparison up in the right corner see picture further down the post. Really wished I had enough wall space to fit it somewhere in my apartment that's already have a bunch of Marduk and Funeral Mist posters among others.

The hard 3rd album is a thing in the Swedish Death Metal scene, according to me at least, or every record after Wolverine Blues (1993) by Entombed. 1995 was a weird year in the Death Metal scene the Black Metal scene however was still going steady upwards but in my book the Death scene wasn't the same after 1995. But we'll get to that.

The first time I heard anything from Massive Killing Capacity was when Headbanger's Ball did a great segment on the Dismember, Amorphis, Hypocrisy, Meshuggah & Benediction on the Nuclear Blast Tour in Stuttgart, Germany from the 10th of January in 1995. Of course I had it recorded on a VHS-cassette and watched it MANY times. Dismember performs the song Casket Garden and it sounded great so did Hypocrisy and Amorphis (a must see clip further down in the post). 

Dismember had released a 3-song MCD called Casket Garden in March of 1995 also made a video for the title track. It sounded VERY different from what they had done on their previous ones like on Like An Everflowing Stream (1991); the Pieces EP (1992) and Indecent And Obscene (1993).

Really liked the song and if I remember correctly Casket Garden was on some collection CD that came with a Swedish metal magazine that I was subscribed to at the time (still am).

It had a certain "grow" to it is the best way I can describe it and Matti Kärki's vocals had a different approach to the song then the growls of the earlier albums. Have always hated when people didn't hear the difference between the Dismember and Entombed sound it's like comparing Slayer with Metallica in my ears. But on the song Casket Garden I could hear that Dismember had been a somewhat inspired by the Wolverine Blues album.

Actually didn't buy the Casket Garden EP back in the day, got it now, but back then I thought EP's were to expensive. I rather just wait for the full album of course I made exceptions especially if they had many exclusive songs or if it was by a favorite band like Dissection, Marduk, Emperor etc.

I would like to mention before we get into Massive Killing Capacity that in 1995 when I was 15 years old I was still listening to everything from Marduk, Emperor, Slayer, Kreator, Unleashed, Ozzy, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest etc. It wasn't until late 1995/early 1996 that everything had to be just Black Metal. What teenager do...

Anyway remember blind buying Massive Killing Capacity on release day and I FUCKING HATED IT... After the first song I Saw Them Die I thought well this can only get better, but then the next song Massive Killing Capacity sure it had some of those classic Dismember riffs but back then I thought it was worse then the opener.

On Frozen Fields I liked imminently, Crime Divine was a disaster and To The Bone was so fucking average about halfway into the album that I probably skipped over to the next one.

Wardead I actually liked even if this didn't sound like Dismember in my ears. Hallucigenia and Collection Of Blood both started alright but then I probably just skipped over them after a minute into the songs I wanted to hear Casket Garden to cleanse my ears with a good song.

The instrumental Nenia I thought had great parts in it sounded very much like the Metallica song Orion to me. But then the ending song... Life - Another Shape of Sorrow, yeah the title was kind of how I felt with this album. I was left feeling so cheated out of a great album, Dismember were after all one of my favorite bands at the time.

Remember being so disappointed on the whole album and cursed myself for not listening to the album at one of my local record stores before buying the damn thing. However being 15 years one had limited funds, I'll admit that I was spoiled enough to afford 3-5 CD's a month. But this must have been a month when I couldn't afford any more albums. So I "had" to listen to it because at least it was a new record that I spent money on it. 

So I skipped through all the "bad songs" that were many I thought back then. I had it on in the background while reading a magazine or doing whatever and didn't skip any songs. Actually the album started to grow on me I started to like more and more of the songs. It was still my least favorite Dismember album but at least I got my moneys worth in the end. Finally I really liked it and eventually thought it was an amazing album.

1995 was a weird year for many Death Metal bands. The North American ones like Death, Morbid Angel, Deicide etc. released brilliant classic records. While Swedish and other European bands released weak ones there's exceptions of course for instance At The Gates with their brilliant Slaughter Of The Soul album. 

In my opinion I don't think the Death Metal scene ever got the same after 1995 sure there were great "new" bands like Angelcorpse, Nile etc. but most of the timeless classic albums in the genre was released during or before 1995.

But back to Massive Killing Capacity I could understand if someone doesn't like this album because it's so different from their other 90's records. Give it another chance and give it time and you might just find the greatness that it really offers in the end. I would never have it on vinyl if I didn't think it was worth it.

Again sorry for the poor quality of my pictures I'll upgrade my iPhone 6S soon to something better.

25th ANNIVERSARY FOR SO MANY ALBUMS THIS YEAR....

Instead of me doing a post each time an album turns 25 years I'll do the MOST significant records in one post alone. Well I might do a separate post in December for The Somberlain because of the path that album lead me to in 1994.

There's so many albums that I will just focus on my 9 favorites. I also disqualified compilations and live records which I usually do anyway for these kind of posts. So no Live In Leipzig by Mayhem that one was also recorded in 1990 and was circled around in the scene long before its official LP release in 1993. I'll save that one for a separate post.

This isn't a list of my top-9 albums in some particular order, sure some records are better then others, but to list them all would be too much of a hassle. So in NO PARTICULAR order the best Black Metal and Death Metal albums of 1993:

Dissection - The Somberlain

Okay already breaking my word but out of these 9 it's the best album that I can say for a fact. Usually I will say that I prefer Storm of the Light's Bane (1995) but whenever I hear The Somberlain all the memories of this one comes back. It's so perfect is the only word that can describe it.

I know this album inside out, can probably hear just 2 seconds of any song at any moment and know immediately what song it is. I listened to this one so much in my young teenage room and while drinking beer with friends to this day. Also remembering having it on repeat while reading all of The Lord of the Rings and Tolkien's other books.

Morbid Angel - Covenant

I love the Altars Of Madness; Blessed Are The Sick; Domination and Abominations Of Desolation records but Covenant is without any doubt my favorite Morbid Angel album. It's also my favorite Death Metal record of all time. Sure that The Somberlain had much Death Metal influences but that one I associate more with the Black Metal scene.

Anyway with Covenant I think the band made their best one all songs are amazing. The order those songs are placed on the record is also perfected from the fast opening Rapture until the end with God of Emptiness one gets onto a journey of Death Metal supreme. I could talk about every song here but I got so much more to write about.

Burzum - Det Som Engang Var

Once I fully understood this albums awesomeness it became a 10 out of 10 album. Recently did a long post about this record. This have become my go to album in the Burzum discography during the last couple of years, sure Filosofem (1996) is better, but this one is still a great genre defying record.

 Marduk - Those of the Unlight

The 2nd Marduk album is also my 2nd favorite Marduk album of all time and was the 2nd Marduk release I ever bought. It's very different from the debut Dark Endless (1992) and the followup Opus Nocturne (1994). I just think that Those of the Unlight sounds like a very unique record in their vast discography. No other album sounds like it in the entire Marduk catalog, sure every record has it own sound but this one is very special.

The first Marduk longsleeve I ever bought was actually a Those of the Unlight shirt. With "Death To Peace" and "War At Last" on the sleeves, on the back the dragon that can be seen inside the original CD booklet and the text written on the last page.

Dismember - Indecent And Obscene

Not as good as the Dismember debut album Like An Everflowing Stream (1991) but still a brilliant Death Metal album. Have probably listened to this one as much as the debut. Actually put Indecent And Obscene at number 9 of my best Death Metal albums of all time and I still think it was a right decision made months ago.

The band had really progressed since the 2 years since their debut album at the time I did actually prefer Clandestine (1991) by Entombed. That's still a great a record but a couple of months after the release of Indecent And Obscene my opinion changed and Dismember became my favorite band.

Immortal - Pure Holocaust

My favorite album by Immortal. At the time and already as early as on their 2nd album it's so very amazingly refined. The sound, the structure of the songs and the lyrics are all so brilliant. If I was to introduce anyone what Black Metal is I would probably choose this one and about 3-4 more.

Not saying that Pure Holocaust is in my top-4 Black Metal albums but if I ever made such a list it would rank high.

Darkthorne - Under A Funeral Moon

Another amazing release and a timeless classic in the genre, however not my favorite Darkthrone record. Still in my top-3 of their albums though. If I remember correctly it was the fourth album by Darkthrone I bought (maybe third) sometime in the mid 90's.

I was such a big fan of everything that Fenriz was associated with back then, I still am, but back then I wanted every record he ever appeared on it was how I discovered many great albums. But about Under A Funeral Moon it is so great that I cannot even pick out any favorite songs because they are all amazing.

Emperor - Emperor EP

I was a huge fan of Emperor in the 90's (still am) but getting a hold of the Emperor/Enslaved split CD on Candlelight Records wasn't easy in the mid 90's. Believe it was during a Stockholm trip it was bought or if I mail ordered it, not certain though. All 4 songs appears on the In The Nightside Eclipse (1994) album and I had heard those to death so this was a great find when I finally got it.

Some prefer the Emperor EP versions of the songs. Myself like the album versions better might be much thanks to the nostalgia I got for In The Nightside Eclipse which were the first album from the Norwegian Black Metal scene that I ever bought. A brilliant 20 min Black Metal EP that everyone should own.

Enslaved - Hordanes Land EP

The first Enslaved album I bought was Frost (1994) actually the Emperor/Enslaved split CD was bought much thanks to Emperor. But to get the Hordanes Land EP  was a great bonus and it was played as much as the Emperor EP. One definitely gets one's money's worth with that split release just Hordanes Land alone is almost 31 min long.

I can never figure out which one is my favorite Enslaved release sometimes it's Frost (1994) then again Vikingligr Veldi (1994) is also amazing and whenever I listen too Eld (1997) I'm reminded how awesome that one is. Maybe Hordanes Land is my favorite after all?


There are MANY honorable mentions!! However non mentioned non forgotten. Could've done a part II or my 20 favorites and I'm already breaking my promise... Both Unanimated and Carcass were almost included. But for Instagram posts the symmetry is better with 9 where I usually post all the stuff you see here. Many of the albums I didn't buy on CD back in 1993 because I was more into the Death and Thrash Metal scene at the time. 

Dismember, Morbid Angel, Slayer, Entombed, Kreator and Unleashed were probably my favorite bands at the time many of these was released. But all that changed when I found out about Dissection and the masterful The Somberlain (yeah I know Metal of Death). It was thanks too that I started getting an interest for the Scandinavian Black Metal scene.

Anyway that was my favorite 9 releases of 1993. It's most for fun I do these posts and opinions can always change, but did list about a month ago and I still stand behind the choices I made.