söndag 30 december 2018

MY TOP 9 POSTS...

...over at my Instagram account this year was these. If you're not already a follower search either for Herr Perdition or Herr Black Metal.


1.) The clear “winner” was my 9 favorite releases that had their 25th anniversary during 2018 like The Somberlain, Covenant, Those Of The Unlight etc.

2.) Ranking all the Immortal albums that was out before the then upcoming new record.

3.) Newest most popular post was Viktoria by Marduk.

4.) My 9 favorite Death Metal albums ever and yes I still stand behind that list.

5.) My “complete” Marduk EP collection (every release but definitely not every print version). Outdated now got some more vinyls and a EP that was released after the post.

6.) Next the new Northern Chaos Gods by Immortal.

7.) Glad that The Somberlain was included among these. The blogpost I did is probably the longest one I written thus far.

8.) My top-3 Death albums have gotten Symbolic (1995) on LP since that.

9.) So glad that this Shadow Records picture disc LP release from 97 of the Marduk masterpiece Heaven Shall Burn... When We Are Gathered (1996) barely made it. Fucking love that one! At this time it got only one more like then my top-12 albums of 2018.

Even with or without likes or followers I would still be doing this.

Will try and step it up with more posts. Usually only post once a week mainly because of work. Or pure laziness...

There’s not a lack of albums or text material. Got a new phone on the way so hopefully will get better picture quality which makes taking the damn photos more inspiring.

Been really into Bathory & Sorhin lately. Also of course Marduk & Funeral Mist as always.

Awhile since I posted a Marduk album and got lots of stuff from months back I haven't posted yet. Has some ideas with Funeral Mist and Sorhin. My part II of the Viking Metal albums by Bathory is almost finished. The pictures are done but got approx 40% left to write. 

torsdag 27 december 2018

MY FAVORITE RELEASES OF 1998

So last year on my Instagram account I started a new "tradition". Since I'm an old school kind of guy it was interesting to make a top list of the best releases of 1997 which was a brilliant year. Especially in Black Metal the scene.

Also the fact I didn't make a list in 2017 because it wasn't a strong year for Black or Death Metal. Sure there were a couple of amazing and even excellent records but not enough for me to do a list of  9-12 albums.

As a comparison I can say that 2018 is actually even better then 1998 that's hard to imagine but it's true at least in my book.

Many of the photos on each individual release have already been published and I'm too lazy to take new ones so some are quite crappy with my old iPhone 6S camera (a newer is on the way).

There are some rules though. No live, compilation, re-recorded, demo reissues or any other releases with very old material.

It's always hard to number albums in a particular order. But I would probably rank them as following and it's not life of death. Anyway let's move on with my favorites of 1998!


Funeral Mist - Devilry

Their debut was release on a 5 song MCD in 1998. The 12" LP was released in 1999 limited to 300 copies and has the bonus song Hellspell 2. Included both my versions that were released by the legendary Shadow Records.


Nifelheim - Devil's Force

The follow-up to their awesome debut Nifelheim (1995) is almost as amazing that one was. Can't say enough good things about this record. Here on my vinyl reissue by Regain Records from 2010.


Abigor - Supreme Immortal Art

Masterpiece! I never get tired of listening to this album and this isn't even my favorite Abigor album. It reminds me of Emperor at times actually prefer this over their IX Equilibrium (1999) record.


Dawn - Slaughtersun (Crown of the Triarchy)

Probably my favorite Dawn release of all time and that says a lot because their debut and the following EP were excellent. On a red 2 x LP vinyl reissue on Century Media from 2017 limited to 100 copies.


Marduk - Nightwing

My 2nd least favorite Marduk studio album but in Marduk terms that still means it's fucking amazing. On some Osmose Productions LP 2016 reissue. Should have the 1st print release in my Marduk collection and one day I will own it.


Arckanum - Kampen

It might be the weakest of all their 3 albums that were released on Necropolis Records in the 90's. But this 2-CD release has lots of great songs on it and a classic. Should really get a reissue LP of this one some day because Necropolis never made one.


Dødheimsgard - Satanic Art

This was released as a great 5-song MCD on Moonfog Productions that really holds up on its own. It's amazing an teaser for their epic 666 International (1999) album. It was finally released on vinyl in 2018 by Peaceville.

Gehenna - Adimiron Black

Really wished I owned a copy of the Moonfog LP of this very impressive album. Strangely it has never been reissued on vinyl. I do like the previous releases First Spell (1994), Seen Through The Veils Of Darkness (1995) and Malice (1996) more but those are hard to compete with and Gehenna doesn't sound anything like those 3 on Adimiron Black.

Sorhin - Döden MCMXCVIII

Sorhin has always been a personal favorite band from my country of Sweden. Only 3 songs but that’s all what it takes from this amazing Black Metal band. Limited and hand numbered CD release.

Angelcorpse - Exterminate

Another one that I should own a LP copy of is this album. It was actually 1 of 2 albums brought me back to the Death Metal scene in 1999 after being totally lost in Black Metal land for years. Even if Angelcorpse play a very Blackened Death Metal this is a very special record for me. Have to do a post about Exterminate and that other important album one day.

Otyg - Älvefärd

Listen so much too this CD in 1998-99 that I almost got burnt out on it. Lots of nostalgia but still a amazing album especially now in the cold Swedish winter time.

Vintersorg - Till Fjälls

As a huge fan of Otyg at the time I of course had to get this Vintersorg album on CD and it didn't disappoint. Here on the digipack CD version not sure if this or the standard jewel case release was released at different times.


Notably more Swedish releases (8) then Norwegian (2) among these ones. I probably fucked up some release date or forgot someone (probably Napalm or Necropolis...).

Some of these bands were considered for the 12 best releases Death, Cannibal Corpse, Gorgoroth, Limbonic Art, Ulver, Dark Funeral, Trelldom, Enslaved etc. So they weren't forgotten Death were closest I do like The Sound Of Perseverance but it's the record I listened least to in their discography.

And that was 1998 see you in a year for 1999 traditions are to be repeated.

söndag 23 december 2018

THE 12 BEST ALBUMS OF 2018

Have to say that 2018 has been the best year in the Black & Death Metal genres since the glory days of the 90's. I'm a 38 year old Swedish guy that have been listening to extreme Metal music since 1991 and bought my first Death Metal CD in the summer of 1992. The amazing Left Hand Path (1990) by Entombed so I've experienced many years within Thrash/Death but especially Black Metal.

During the years 2000-2017 there's been MANY brilliant albums released. But I cannot remember a year with such an incredible amount of amazing releases since like I said the glorious 90's. 2009 had many brilliant albums by Funeral Mist, Wardruna, Marduk, Unanimated, Arckanum etc.

If there's an official YouTube video I've included one, non-official ones absolutely not. Anyway enough babbling about the past, videos and on with the 2018 list.

1. Funeral Mist - Hekatomb

The biggest shock of the year was when Daniel "Arioch/Mortuus" Rostén announced (or rather the NoEvDia Bandcamp) that a new Funeral Mist album called Hekatomb was being released. Remember it was on a Saturday, on June the 9th around 12:00 (if I remember correctly) that I got the e-mail and it was going to be released just 6 days later.

My reaction was out of this world because it had been so many years since the last one and I thought Arioch was contented with Marduk being his only creative outlet. I'm really glad that wasn't the case. If I made a list of best album from 2010-2018 Hekatomb would probably top that list. It's such a beast of an album.

I know this has been written before but if I had to pick out a favorite band it would be Funeral Mist. Was it a new Salvation (2003) or my favorite release of theirs Maranatha (2009)? No but definitely a 10 out of 10 record. Pure perfection in every millisecond.

Read my post on the album here.

2. Ivar Bjørnson & Einar Selvik – Hugsjá

This album will probably not be on many lists this year or be as high as on my. But I've been a huge fan of everything Einar Selvik have been apart of especially since the release of the first Wardruna album. I also prefer Hugsjá over Ivar Bjørnson & Einar Selvik's debut release Skuggsjá - A Piece For Mind And Mirror (2016) and that's a masterful record.

Don't know how accurate the list that Spotify has put together over my most played songs of 2018. Yes I use Spotify at my work do to its accessibility and because I can't bring my LP's or CD's to work. According to that the song Hugsjá was my most played one, could see that because it's excellent. Do like the Wiegedood Drudkh albums but got to question that list sure I listened too them a couple of times but not to the extent it suggests...

Let's move on. Written this so many times but this album gives me the same feeling as the Storm, Isengard and Wongraven albums that meant so much for me in the 90's. Even if they musically don't sound anything like those bands Hugsjá is in the same spirit. A natural continuation of those glory days of my life, musically.



Read my post on the album here.

3. Marduk - Viktoria

I've been a huge fan of Marduk since 1994 and this Norrköping Black Metal War Machine are still kings of the scene. They never disappoint and Viktoria felt like a fresh album in their deep vast discography. Their 3rd shortest album but what they packed within those 33 min few other bands could only dream of releasing.

Very impressing that Arioch/Mortuus is on two of the top-3 albums. But I'm not surprised by that if you read my posts and have seen my collection you should know that I'm a huge fan of both Funeral Mist and Marduk.



Read my post on the album here.

4. Wardruna - Skald

The first album that Wardruna / Einar Selvik did since the Runaljod Trilogy was completed is very different from what they released thus far. Selvik says it best in the booklet:

"Skald was recorded live in the studio with the intention of capturing the uncompromising energy of a a live performance rather then aiming for a flawless and polished expression.
It sets out to give voice to the ancient craft that once lay at the heart of the Norse oral traditions, presented as it takes shape in the hands of a humble contemporary skald today”

I couldn't describe it the album better myself. If you didn't know Einar Selvik is one of the people in the scene I admire most for their musical capability. The only other living people I think as high of are Fenriz and Arioch/Mortuus



Read my post on the album here.

5. Djevel - Blant Svarte Graner

Hate to use the term "all-star band" but this Norwegian combo was joined by a legend in the scene for Blant Svarte Graner Bård "Faust" Eithun everyone should know his contribution to the scene. Even if I prefer the previous album Norske Ritualer (2016) just a tiny bit more, they're almost as equal as equal can get. But I still don't think that Djevel has reached their peak yet.

Djevel feels stronger and better. They should be one of the biggest bands in the entire Black Metal scene nowadays in my opinion. The fact Djevel doesn't play live that often I think is a huge reason for that because all possibilities are there for them being at the top.

Their music has a 90's Norwegian Black Metal feeling to it without it being like they're trying to do what's already been recorded before. I cannot recommend Blant Svarte Graner enough probably the most underrated album on this entire list.

Read my post on the album here.

6. Behemoth - I Loved You At Your Darkest

Admittedly I haven't listened that long to Behemoth really. Wasn't until I bought their masterpiece of an album The Satanist (2014) that I got into them. Even if this isn't as good as that one it's still damn close! It wasn't an easy task to follow-up such an album.

There's been mixed opinions even among the diehard Behemoth fans about this record. As usually I don't care about what people think of music that I enjoy. But I'm still a bit pissed off about the 56% score over at Metal Archives.

I Loved You At Your Darkest is amazing throughout and one can hear that the band really focused on every little small detail. Nothing is left for coincidence. Pure brilliancy!




Read my post on the album here.

7. Summoning - With Doom We Come

Astonishing! One quarter of a century Summoning have been a band. They have released 8 albums with this one included plus the two EP's I think that they are all amazing releases. The 2 previous albums before saw a little decline in terms of quality, still great records that I enjoy very much though. But with this one With Doom We Come they released their best album in 17 years. Since Let Mortal Heroes Sing Your Fame (2001) and that's very impressive.

Like I wrote in my post about With Doom We Come it's not like Silenius and Protector invented the wheel or progressed musically for that matter. They just wrote the best songs they could and the result was astonishingly great.

Read my post on the album here.

8. Unanimated - Annihilation

It's the return of darkness and evil! Finally they're back on track Unanimated have always been one of the best Swedish bands of all time in my opinion. It was well worth the wait I can easily say now. When a record deal for 3 albums with Century Media can't think of another band more deserving of that then Unanimated.

Even if I called this "the best albums" I still wanted to include the EP. If it had more then 4 songs I'm certain that it would have landed on an even higher place. But the competition is murder this year.

They got a great sound with Fredrik Folkare in the Chrome Studio. All 4 songs on this EP showed that the upcoming album will become something really special mark my words. I cannot wait for it to finally be released. 

Read my post on the EP here.

9. Craft - White Noise And Black Metal

After a amazing debut Craft released the 2 brilliant albums Terror Propaganda (2002) and Fuck The Universe (2005). Then came the rather boring Void (2011) but 7 years later this amazing album was released. I never could've imagined that Craft would on my top-9 albums of 2018 before I heard the album. They definitely proved me wrong.

Maybe one of the most underrated album in the entire year. It's going to be interesting to see if any others include this on their lists. I usually never care for what people say about albums. Sure opinions by friends, some journalists and a couple of people on Instagram I really respect their point of view.

Anyway Craft really did a good job this year and deserved a place on this list. 



Read my post on the album here.

10. Immortal - Northern Chaos Gods

Was very skeptic to this album when it was announced in 2015 didn't think I would like or buy it. Also a Immortal lineup without Abbath? I wasn't concerned by Demonaz guitar skills but Abbath was such a charismatic frontman (sure some might not enjoy his antics).

But Holy Blashyrkh what a album they released! The Abbath band feels like they play in a much lower division then Immortal.

If they ever rejoin with him or not I really don't care for anymore. Demonaz and Horgh showed that they are fine without him. Released the best Immortal album since At The Heart Of Winter (1999) in my opinion. Really enjoyed Demonaz as vocalist but will they take this out on the road so one can experience this amazing Immortal? I really hope so.



Read my post on the album here.

11. Necrophobic - Mark Of The Necrogram

In 2019 Necrophobic will be 30 years old but these guys is far from finished. Mark Of The Necrogram shows that they're still hungry. Amazing sound, cover art and those songs.

The album was released as early as February and I still think that the album grows on me with each listening and there's been plenty of hours. Can't tell you enough how much this has been played while I'm at work. It's been a "go to record" whenever I couldn't decide which one to play.



Read my post on the album here.

12. Abigor- Höllenzwang (Chronicles of Perdition)

An old favorite band of mine still shows that they are a force to be recon with even if their previous albums also was great. I would say this is their best album since the Channeling The Quintessence Of Satan that was released in 1999. Silenius (vocals) have just like Arioch/Mortuus been included on two albums on this list.

Read my post on the album here.


There's too MANY honorable mentions! But none mentioned none forgotten! However...

I just ordered the new Voodus album Into The Wild that was recently released on LP by Shadow Records. So haven't heard that one enough to include it among the top-12. Might just have to update this post once I have listened too it a couple of times. Because what I heard so far sounds fucking amazing.

There's 2 other bands I'm probably am going to buy albums of that could potentially chance the list even more. But we'll see...

Anyway remember this isn't about life and death. Could've done a longer list but a top-12 list looks best symmetrically over at my Instagram @herr_perdition page.

Also to place them all in a order that I'm satisfied with was already tough enough already. Some choices could probably change depending on mood of the day.

I wrote this list about a month ago and still feel confident with my list for the best albums of 2018. Ask me in a year and we'll see if it's still the same?

Some might see this as too many personal preferences because of how high I regard Funeral Mist, Marduk and Wardruna / Einar Selvik. But they were the best 4 albums of the year according to me despite the killer competition.

That was 2018 summarized a vast improvement from 2017. Will 2019 be as good as this year? Who knows but it would take a lot of brilliant albums released with such high standard that this year set. All except for Unanimated I don't think any of the other bands have a new record in store.

Anyway thanks for your visit and time. Although there's not often comments on my posts here like on my Instagram page, please feel free to leave a comment with your best of 2018 list.

torsdag 20 december 2018

MY WARDRUNA TATTOO

If you read my posts you should know that I’m really big fan of Wardruna and Einar Selvik’s music. In fact so much that I had to do a tattoo of the Wardruna bindrune.

Thanks again to @fifthson78 on Instagram or www.fifthson.com I’ll see you again in February. When I will pay my respects to one Herr N... is all I’m going to say about that. There's still some scabbing going on around the tattoo as you might see.

Had the thought of waiting to post the new Wardruna album Skald (2018) and until the tattoo was done. But I couldn’t wait to post my LP & CD of Skald because it’s such a great record.

Have considered doing this Wardruna tattoo on the underside of my forearm for MANY years. It wasn’t a spur of the moment kind of thing. Only included the 4 Wardruna albums in this post because the tattoo isn’t related to Skuggsjá and Hugsjá.

Have already posted most of my Einar Selvik related albums (and t-shirts, book, pendants etc.) that I own by Wardruna, Skuggsjá, Jotunspor, Gorgoroth etc. So if you’re interested see earlier post(s) for those.

I still think the first one I heard the debut Gap Var Ginnunga (2009) is their best album and my favorite Einar Selvik release ever. Both Yggdrasil (2013) and Ragnarok (2016) isn’t far behind and Skald will be high on my list of the best albums of 2018.

Am very pleased with this tattoo I wear it with great pride.

söndag 16 december 2018

FUNERAL MIST - SALVATION (2003) VINYLS & POSTERS x 3

This crown jewel of an album had its 15th anniversary earlier this year and here's my complete vinyl collection of them all. Included the Salvation from the Trisagion (2013) vinyl boxset that also consists of Devilry and Maranatha.

Have already posted a similar complete vinyl collection of Devilry (1998) earlier this year check it out here if you're interested. Don't own nearly as many CD's of Salvation as Devilry only have the original Norma Evangelium Diaboli CD from 2003. The ones I'm looking out for most are the one on The Ajna Offensive from 2006 & the Season Of Mist from 2012. Will have more with time but I'm not in any hurry.

First out one of my biggest gems in my entire collection and it’s never about fucking monetary value in these cases. Salvation means something for me, something much more then money can buy.

Salvation ‎(2 x LP) 2003 Norma Evangelium Diaboli

The layout of the 2003 release I like the most. Only Arioch (& Dauthus on this release) can create that weird, twisted, sinister, sick & astonishing design. Brilliant poster, the pictures of the “band” & lyrics inlay are amazing.
The marks/branding of the pics might be a bit overkill but I don't like it whenever some shithead at Instagram uses my images from my collection. Which have happened on numerous occasions.

Salvation ‎(2 x LP) from the 2013 Trisagion boxset Norma Evangelium Diaboli

The 5 x LP Trisagion (2013) boxset naturally includes Salvation. Haven’t actually played any of those LP’s because I want to keep them as pristine as possible. Great design once again but the box only comes with 1 poster. However it’s my favorite Funeral Mist poster of the 9 different official ones that I own.

Salvation ‎(2 x LP) reissue 2017 Norma Evangelium Diaboli

In 2017 all 3 releases were reissued, likely to high demand and the expensive prices. The cover artwork has a slightly different color, it looks like the Trisagion one. Almost not notable with my crappy iPhone camera. 

Inside the gatefold there’s a great Arioch picture & the lyrics. Although a great piece of artwork on the poster but I think it has a bit too much dark grey color. As does the 2 other 2017 reissue posters.

Salvation ‎(CD) 2003 Norma Evangelium Diaboli


Chose to include this one also. Because it's worth buying the CD copy just for the 16-page booklet alone. It got even more artwork then the vinyl releases and esthetics that really pleases my eyes.

This is one of my favorite Black Metal albums of all time. If I ever did a list of my best records 2000-18 Salvation would be in 2nd place. Don’t expect such list from me though it's too hard. Actually tried once but gave up. I can say that lots of Funeral Mist, Marduk, Wardruna etc. at the top but also some newer bands. But never say never...

A bit off-topic but I do prefer Maranatha just a little bit more over Salvation but it's like choosing between Storm Of The Light's Bane and The Somberlain by Dissection and that's EXTREMELY difficult.

Any which way you own Salvation is the right way (not a download one or burnt CD-copy though). When you got it in your hands you will feel the magic within this masterpiece.

söndag 9 december 2018

BATHORY - HAMMERHEART (1990) & TWILIGHT OF THE GODS (1991)

Hammerheart the limited edition gatefold first print vinyl on Noise International. Not often that I find such gems as this one in my own midsized Swedish hometown (approx 100 000).
Twilight Of The Gods vinyl is a 2003 reissue on Black Mark Production.

Been listening too Bathory extensively for quite some time so I thought of doing a 2 part series of their viking albums. This is part I or II:

Hammerheart & Twilight Of The Gods were the 5th & 6th Bathory albums. Hammerheart being the first release in their "viking era". Sure there were hints of it with songs like Odens Ride Over Nordland; A Fine Day To Die and also the title track from their previous Blood Fire Death (1988) record.
Other bands had released viking themed songs long before. But here Bathory go all into full Viking Metal mode and the Hammerheart album was the first of its kind.

Believe I bought both these albums on CD back in 1996 it could maybe even been in 1997 at the same time. Because the Jubileum I & II compilations had many of the best songs and being 16 years old one had to prioritize albums to buy.

Hammerheart didn't quite blow me away like the albums Blood Fire Death; Under The Sign Of The Black Mark; The Return and the debut Bathory had done. I appreciated the songs that appeared on the compilations especially Shores In Flames and Song To Hall Up High.

But it didn't take long before I realized just how excellent the album really is. It starts perfectly with the already mentioned Shores In Flames and it's 11 min of pure amazing Scandinavian Viking/Black Metal at its finest. Then another excellent song Valhalla also a long one 9,5 min.

Already 2 songs into Hammerheart one can hear especially where especially the early Viking/Pagan Metal bands from the Norwegian Black Metal scene found their inspiration. Bathory were truly the godfathers of the Scandinavian scene.

Baptised In Fire And Ice and Father To Son are both amazing songs and just like almost all the other songs on the album quite long but feels way shorter. Actually the shortest song on the album is the 2,5 min long Song To Hall Up High.

I'm not sure when Home Of The Once Brave was written. But it sounds more like something like a less refined song from the follow-up Twilight Of The Gods rather then a Hammerheart song. Still one of my favorites on the record though.

Now for a long and maybe controversial topic. I really like One Rode To Asa Bay but I got to be in the right mood to fully appreciate it. Still one of their most overrated songs in my opinion. It wouldn't be my choice to make a promo video for that one from Hammerheart. The video they did was really impressive and spectacular though.

Don't know but I have this love/hate relation to One Rode To Asa Bay. Love and hate are very strong words that I wouldn't use for it but those describes my feelings for the song best.

The 10,5 min feels very long sometimes when I listen to it. Also I wouldn't have it as late on the record either. That's my opinion on One Rode To Asa Bay let's move on.

Altogether Hammerheart is an amazing album and my 2nd favorite of the viking records and that's definitely a great rating for it. The highs might be a little better on Hammerheart but I think that Twilight Of The Gods is a much more even record and the best one of all the viking albums Bathory did.

Starting with the 14 min title track Prologue - Twilight of the Gods - Epilogue the sound and production is more refined on this album and it already shows in the opening song. Even if it's a great opener I can hear why it was the ending song of the compilation Jubileum II.

Also I think that Quorthon's vocals has evolved so much for the better on Twilight Of The Gods.

Through Blood By Thunder is another song that appeared on one of the Jubileum albums and is a personal favorite on the album. The 10,5 min Blood And Iron is another one that I really enjoy.

I know that it sounds like I'm repeating myself I'll try and mix it up the text a bit. Under The Runes is a top-3 song on this album amazing guitars on that one. To Enter Your Mountain begins with this Folk music feeling to it and guess what? I think it's a great song even if I know some don't like that particular one.

Bond Of Blood has a very interesting story behind it. That one was recorded as In Nomine Satanas in 1987 and that version wasn't released until Jubileum Volume III (1998). The lyrics are of course way different from each other. Both versions are great but I do prefer Bond Of Blood slightly more maybe because I heard it for so long before on Jubileum II in 1995. It's in my- top 3 songs on this record.

The song Hammerheart that confusingly appears on Twilight Of The Gods does really stand out on the record because it's so different from the other material. It took me many listens before I learned to like that one but when I did it's a really great song.

That's my opinions on Hammerheart and Twilight Of The Gods two brilliant records that should belong in any serious collection. I don't know many who prefer Twilight Of The Gods over Hammerheart but if you're one of them feel free to leave me a comment.

I'll do post II about Blood On Ice (1996); Nordland I (2002) and Nordland II (2003) soon. Usually don't do the same band two times in a row so we'll what I post next.

söndag 2 december 2018

THE SOMBERLAIN 25th ANNIVERSARY

Tomorrow is a very important day for the Black/Death Metal scene. Because on one Friday the 3rd of December 1993 an album was released on the Swedish label No Fashion Records by a band called Dissection. That record was for me the life changing The Somberlain.

In the spring of 1994 I started buying a new and short lived Swedish magazine called Metal Zone. For a couple of issues Jon Nödtveidt (guitar/vocals) did a few of reviews, wrote in the "Extreme Zone" did interviews with Bathory and Emperor etc.

Got really impressed with his writing. Metal Zone also did a interview with Jon from Dissection. You could say I was a fan even before I had heard The Somberlain just based on all the great texts he wrote and what he said in that interview.

Should mention that the Dissection drummer Ole Öhman wrote a couple of interviews with Carcass and At The Gates. Did reviews etc.

Jon and Ole wasn't apart of Metal Zone for more then a few issues and they didn't have nice things to say about the magazine that had covers with shit bands like Bon Jovi and Clawfinger. 

The hardest music that made the cover of it was probably Metallica, Pantera and Megadeth. It also had a bunch of AOR music articles so it wasn't the perfect magazine.

But if it wasn't for Jon's writing and that interview I probably wouldn't have heard Dissection until a couple of years later. Actually when I heard the name for the first time I thought they were some Cannibal Corpse sounding band not anything wrong about that but clearly they didn't sound anything like that.

When I came over a copy of The Somberlain in the summer of 1994 it was spectacular. I do still  remember the first time listening to it in my bedroom and being completely floored by the music. It was a new formula for me yet it felt like something that summoned up every inch of extreme Metal music.

Know about the ancient debate were Dissection a Death Metal band or a Black Metal band. This is probably going to piss off some younger readers but when a 18-20 year old tells me that Dissection is a Black Metal band period, just shut the hell up about a band and scene that existed long before you were even born. I'm not out to offend someone but sometimes you just had to experienced those days.

I think on The Somberlain the band has a much more Death Metal feel to it then on the more blackened Storm Of The Light's Bane (1995). Remember in the very first Dissection interview I read that Jon said they play Death Metal. Is any of this important? Well no. But also yes because it's a topic I can discuss for a very long time preferable with someone in my age as me or older.

For me Dissection lead me into Black Metal that the album was dedicated to Øystein "Euronymous" Aarseth (1968-1993) from "the cursed Mayhem" and the ties that the band had with other Black Metal bands in Scandinavia. Soon thereafter I bought Emperor, Marduk, Immortal etc. albums.


Anyway lets move on. The feeling I got when I
first got the record it was like something very personal something that "no one else" knew about of course there were thousands of people just like me.

But the feeling of knowing about how amazing Dissection was it felt like everyone should know. Soon everyone did know but for awhile I felt like a very "selected" is the best word I can describe it as.

The material on The Somberlain was written as far back as 1989 to 1992. The already mentioned Jon and Ole were joined in Dissection by the longtime bassist Peter Palmdahl (1989-97) and the amazing rythm guitarist John Zwetsloot (1991-94).

Everyone should know the Dissection history, that they had originated from the small Swedish town Strömstad (approx 6 300 people) near the Norwegian border.

Before The Somberlain the band had released the demo also as a 7" Into Infinite Obscurity (1991) on the French label Corpse Grinder Records. Also the demos The Grief Prophecy (1991); The Somberlain 4-song demo from 1992 and also the Promo '93 with Where Dead Angels Lie and my favorite cover song of all time Dissection's version of Elisabeth Bathory originally written by Tormentor.

In March of 1993 between the 1st to the 6th of that month they recorded their debut album in the Hellspawn/Unisound Studio with Dan Swanö. More about the production further down. The studio had already made a mark in the Swedish Death and Black Metal scene with bands I don't should have too mention.

The opening song Black Horizons was the newest track on the album the music was written by Nödtveidt & Zwetsloot in Oct. 92 and the lyrics was written by Nödtveidt a month before that. With its 8 min 10 sec Black Horizons is the longest song on the entire album. It starts of with a backward played phrase. Isn't until 2 min into the song that the vocals starts. The song itself sounds probably the most Black Metal like on the album, it has an acoustic guitar playing in parts of the song. Also that classic King Diamond/Heavy Metal scream done by producer Dan Swanö. A perfect opener and one of the best songs on this masterpiece. 

The title track The Somberlain was my favorite song back when I first started listening to Dissection. With that amazing opening guitar playing sure that Nödtveidt was a great songwriter but his guitar skills aren't talked about as often. In my book he's the 2nd best guitar player just behind Euronymous. Anyway The Somberlain is the second longest song on the album 7 min, it was written by Nödtveidt alone the music in June 92 and the lyrics December 91. If Dissection is to be associated with one song it's likely many will think of The Somberlain it's there anthem song one could say. Actually this song doesn't appear on the 4-song The Somberlain demo from 1992.

The instrumental Crimson Towers is "just" an acoustic guitar played by Zwetsloot alone who also wrote it. Out of the three instrumental songs I think it is the weakest.

The only song that Nödtveidt co-wrote music with bassist Peter Palmdahl was on the song A Land Forlorn. The music was written in June 92 the lyrics dates back to December 90. The band often played it live in the 90's and on The Rebirth of Dissection tour in 2004 but was dropped after that.

On some gigs in the 90's Heaven's Damnation was used as the opening song and with its fast paced start it suits for that. Even if I personally preferred the At the Fathomless Depths/Night's Blood opening. Anyway the entire Heaven's Damnation song was written in April 92 the music is another Nödtveidt & Zwetsloot co-written one.  with a great acoustic guitar which adds much to the mood of the song.

Another one they used to open gigs with was Frozen both in the 90's and also in 2005. The song was entirely written by Nödtveidt himself in December 91. It also appears first on The Somberlain demo from 1992. Definitely a fan favorite also, one of mine as well the verse when Jon sings:
"Tears in my eyes turns into fire
as where I belong
The cold within, it chills my skin,
my heart and soul
In ecstasy I shred myself
to release what's held within
In solitude I'm having my pride
I, Transylvanian son"
is just pure magic. It gets me every time I hear it and sends chills down my spine because it's so fucking brilliant.

The second instrumental song Into Infinite Obscurity is much better then the first one. This one dates back to 1991 and is on the Into Infinite Obscurity 7" that I wrote about earlier.

In the Cold Winds Of Nowhere was another music collaboration by Nödtveidt & Zwetsloot written in Oct. 91. It also appeared on The Somberlain demo from 1992. This album doesn't have any flaws I would say but in my opinion it's the 2nd weakest song on the record. But don't get me wrong! The song is something few bands only could've imagined to write in their entire career.

Only music written by both drummer Ole Öhman and Nödtveidt is on The Grief Prophecy/Shadows Over A Lost Kingdom. The song Shadows Over A Lost Kingdom dates all the way back to November 1989 the same year that Dissection started. It also appeared on Into Infinite Obscurity 7" that version is of course completely different both are great but I do believe that I prefer the 7" version a bit more. At least today on the 3rd December of 2018 but it could change. I'm very glad they included it on the compilation The Past Is Alive (The Early Mischief) (1997) that Necropolis Records put out.

Like I wrote The Somberlain is a flawless album and I would not change anything. But the weakest song of the non-instrumental ones is in my opinion Mistress of the Bleeding Sorrow. It's of course still great also I think that the version from The Somberlain demo from 1992 sounds a little better. It's more raw and harsh of course then this version, yet again very glad it's on The Past Is Alive.

The instrumental by Zwetsloot Feathers Fell ends of this masterpiece and it's the best of the 3 instrumental songs he composed. I often used this one as an ending song on many my mix cassette tapes back in the day. If it had 41 seconds left on a side it was a great way to fit another song onto them. Actually yet again I do prefer demo version with vocals and drums it's 51 seconds and was also used to end cassette tapes with. But both versions are genius so you can't go wrong with either of them.

And that's all the songs on The Somberlain like most debut records it's a lot of "old" demo songs re-recorded. The Past Is Alive does include many but not all of them, but there's been reissued versions of the album and deluxe ones that fixes that if one wants all those songs. But this post is about the 1993 version of The Somberlain the one I grew up listening to.

The production by Dan Swanö was truly amazing. The Somberlain set a new standard for MANY other bands in the scene. Also got to mention the classic amazing cover artwork done by the legendary Kristian "Necrolord" Wåhlin.

Got to do a comparison with the follow-up album Storm Of The Light's Bane that was released almost two years later on Nuclear Blast. I often say it's my favorite Dissection album and my 2nd favorite album of all time. Only beaten by De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas by Mayhem.

Well how much better is really Storm Of The Light's Bane? Extremely little in my opinion when I listen to The Somberlain all memories comes back and I almost change my mind which is the better one.

Many bands even old ones adopted the Dissection style of melodic Death Metal and a ton of newer ones like Naglfar, Vinterland, Gates Of Ishtar etc. It almost got ridiculous with how many Swedish melodic Death Metal with hints of Black Metal popped up.

The style however isn't what I really enjoy except for the records by Dissection, Unanimated and Dawn there's very few melodic Death Metal bands that I like. When done properly it's amazing but take a band like Vinterland their only record is nowadays are praised as something genius. Back then me and my friends used to hate and laugh at all "Dissection clone" bands. I still do that!

When Jon and Vlad was arrested in December of 1997 for murder I was devastated for my own selfish reasons because it meant no more Dissection. At least it felt like that Jon would be doing 16 years in prison or something like that. Being 17 years old at the time and being a huge fan I was truly gutted.

We saw the Live Legacy release in 2003 recorded at Wacken Open Air of 1997 after the murder of Josef. The recording had already circled in the scene and it was released as a bootleg called Frozen In Wacken (1999).

What about Reinkaos (2006)? No thanks... I think it was great that Jon did the Rebirth of Dissection got a new lineup for the band together and did tours. However the songs on Reinkaos sucks... The sound, production, songwriting, arrangements are all terrible.

Sure I think that Maha Kali is a great song even if it sounded quite dated like something from 1996-97 by another band. Other then that its just boring sounding songs on that album. I've tried MANY times and it never gets any better. Actually don't even own a copy of it for myself anymore.

The Somberlain will always be remembered for years to come even at its 50th anniversary it will be regarded as one of the best albums of its time.

Anyway thanks if you read the whole text for a life changing record in this 38 year old man life.