My post and ''review'' on the new 2021 Funeral Mist album Deiform

The best album of the year is going to be real easy to pick out in 2021. Deiform by Funeral Mist released on the 17th of December 2021 by Norma Evangelium Diabolical of course. The perfect ending to another crap year (due to Covid, Corona and now this Omicron shit) anyway...

The LP release looks amazing and comes on 2 vinyls included inside a gatefold is a 12-page A4 booklet. While the CD release has a 20-page booklet.

Couldn’t wait until the LP, CD & t-shirt of my favorite bands new album to arrive in a proper way and not to stream it (my order has been posted but it could take to the 28th of January to arrive...). All pictures are taken from the Funeral Mist bandcamp. Support them, Holy Poison Design and Funeral Mist!

Btw. longtime no see my friends! Both here on the blog or Instagram almost a year. Am I back for good? I'll get to that in the end of the post... Let for now focus on Funeral Mist. 

The most important happening of 2021. As always hated to say I'm doing reviews but maybe they are? 

Took me a couple of listens to realize that the opening Twilight Of The Flesh is for now my favorite song of the album or at least 1 of 3. The slow start with choir chants, the fast middle and slow ending creates a perfect harmony and start.

The following fast paced shorter Apokalyptikon has great vocals by "D.Rostén". So far an amazing 9:38 + 4:26 start! Could already tell I prefer this album more than Hekatomb (2018).

Amazing drumming by former Marduk drummer (2006-13) Lars B aka. Lars Broddesson during the entire album.

The 8:56 In Here shows that the short songs of the previous album Hekatomb (a averaged of 5:20) is a thing of the past. On Deiform its an average about 6:45 and that's very welcome.

I sound like a broken record already but the In Here (8:56) is another favorite of mine that appears on Deiform. Clearly among my top-3 songs.

Children Of The Urn (7:45) caught my ears directly with its Swedish children’s choir. Fucking brilliant! Even if a Funeral Mist album it's a cohesive experience I would place it as my 4th or 5th favorite song either this one or Apokalyptikon.

Hooks Of Hunger 4:54 was another song that I liked immediately during my first play through of the album. I wouldn't put it as high up as I did back of the initial listening.

Another top-3 song on the album is the title track Deiform 9:09 it's slow & heavy with Rostén’s vocals one of the most interesting songs. Deiform unlikely for a Funeral Mist song to use melodic Heavy Metal like guitars during a song. But take these "top songs" with a grain of salt it could change.

The ending Into Ashes 9:10 probably is in my opinion the weakest song on Deiform. Still an amazing song but wrong placed though it would been better placed next to last.

The slow opener (half through) Twilight Of The Flesh choir and all could’ve been an excellent ending or also Deiform; In Here or Children of the Urn.

To rate Deiform among other Funeral Mist albums is very early. But it would be boring if I did not! 

It’s not near the masterpieces Salvation (2003) or my favorite Maranatha (2009). But better than both Hekatomb and Devilry (1998).

The long songs feels welcome back and the 54 min album goes by very fast. 3 songs over 9 min: Twilight Of The Flesh; Deiform & Into Ashes and just 4 seconds short of 9 min In Here. Then also Children of the Urn almost 8 min just 2 songs under 5 min. 

Clearly my favorite album in years! Since 2018 Hekatomb actually. Maybe even back to the 2012 album Serpent Sermon by Marduk. However I haven't looked deep into it and Deiform is a new album.

My only little complaint is that I would've wanted one more song so it could've broken the 1 hour barrier. But of course rather have a 54 min superb than 1 hour subpar experience.

As the world is for artists nowadays with Rostén releasing the ambient DomJord project with 2 excellent albums last year. The t-shirt productivity with Funeral Mist, Marduk, DomJord etc (amazing quality shirts NOT cheap shit) at Holy Poison. I was almost awaiting him announcing a new Funeral Mist album earlier when Marduk wasn't on tour. Sadly the January tour with Vader got cancelled due to fucking Covid restrictions...

Should have bought tickets to the December Darkness where I heard that they played the entire Dark Endless (1992) album on one of their two sets. Cannot confirm that though and with bands like Djevel, Voodus, Grá, Valkyrja it would've been amazing. 

If the Gefle Metal Festival (Marduk; Emperor; Entombed; Mayhem; Meshuggah; Deicide; At The Gates; Uleashed; Mgla;  Exodus etc.) gets cancelled for a 3rd summer I'll probably kill myself...

Didn't get as surprised as with Hekatomb when Deiform was announced just a week before its release. With Hekatomb it felt like the biggest bomb of 2018. However back then it had been 9 years since Maranatha and I wasn't sure if Funeral Mist was finished. Even if it felt like Rostén wasn't as involved on the Viktoria (2018) album by Marduk as before.

Might do a review when I get my LP, CD & t-shirt order from NoEvDia because 3 days of listening isn’t enough to have a fair opinion. I mean it took me many years to prefer Maranatha over Salvation. But for now I'll say that this was a brilliant album because my expectations are high as fuck whenever Funeral Mist release an album.

Now will I keep on posting? Don’t know! Still collecting of course have bought a lot of records this year not that many new ones though.

I own an even sicker fucking Marduk collection nowadays and really would like to do posts them. Some dates back 3 years or more.

And my collection of Funeral Mist official t-shirts, longsleeves plus a hoodie (now at 21 different designs).

Got to mention I bought the 6 LP + 7 CD Arcturus set Stars And Oblivion (The Complete Works 1991 to 2002).  This is how a box set is suppose to be done. That means I finally got my most wanted vinyl The Sham Mirrors (2002), not the first print, but still a LP copy to spin. Included with great poster and other things I would love to do a post of it.

Have bought a bunch of other albums of course I would like to write about also. However I'll be posting a best of 2021 list that much is certain.

Already have a finished the writing vinyl of posts like Marduk - World Funeral: Jaws Of Hell MMIII (2020); Deathmarch Tour EP (2004); Souls For Belial (2013);  Darkthrone - Eternal Hails......; the oldest is one of the 3 Marduk DVD's from 2018. And a bunch more that never got posted.

A thing that's been holding me back posting is ever since I moved to a new apartment (it was boring at the old place too). Is all the fucking pictures I'll take for just one post.

Might have to rethink how I do those and restrict myself to maybe 1 or 2 picture per post for the sake of my own sanity. But it wouldn't feel like my style also REFUSE to use stock photos that's fucking cheating. We'll just have to wait and see. 

Until then Funeral Mist are still the FUCKING BEST!! 

GUITARS - MAKING MUSIC - FUNERAL MIST and COLLECTING VINYL

So hello there! It's been quite awhile to say the least. I’m not really into social media or writing at the moment. Well here I am again love or hate it.

Mainly because of the LTD Explorer in this picture (my Jackson & Ibanez before). That means my posts here and on Instagram isn’t happening. Well I've done a few posts now in August I want to share here also.

Decided in January to pick up the guitar again after some 20 years... Much do to the Covid pandemic that lead to me spending so much time at home.

Especially when I was let go from my work in the beginning of April and being paid just sitting at home until June.

Today's standard to play the guitar so much different than back in the late 90's/early 2000. I mean one only has to own a computer to be able to record ones creations. It also sounds amazing! Not like back in the straight to a boombox days and press record unto a cassette-tape.

It’s an such an amazing and rewarding hobby. Just the playing, creating my own riffs/music, adding solos, program drums and work on recorded songs.

It's such a giving experience especially when one feels like one is improving all the time. I don't learn to play a bunch of covers sure some riffs here and there but prefer to do something original.

Play in all sorts of tunings. All the way from E-standard to tuned down to B-standard. Also drop-D and drop-C. But what I've tuned my guitar to most of my recordings is DADFAd.

For some reason I get very inspired playing the strings in that tuning. Don't ask me why though.

This is and will remain a one man project. But I will buy a bass some cheaper 200-300 Euro one someday. Also I really want a cheap keyboard. Nothing fancy though. 

Don’t plan to release any of my music. It’s mainly for my own "self sanity", haha. Like writing was a relaxing thing for me the guitar has become to same thing for me if I ain't sociallycing 

I’m hugely inspired by Death Metal bands but also Black Metal of course. To be specific especially these albums/releases:

• ANGELCORPSE - Hammer of the Gods; Exterminate and The Inexorable

• DEATH - Scream Bloody Gore; Leprosy; Spiritual Healing; Human; Individual Thought Patterns and Symbolic

• FUNERAL MIST - Devilry; Salvation; Maranatha and Hekatomb

• MARDUK - Fuck Me Jesus; Here’s No Peace; Dark Endless; Those of the Unlight and onwards...

• DISSECTION - The Somberlain; Storm of the Light’s Bane and The Past Is Alive

• MORBID ANGEL - Altars Of Madness; Blessed Are The Sick; Abominations of Desolations; Covenant and Domination

• DISMEMBER - Like An Everflowing Stream; Indecent And Obscene and Death Metal

• ENTOMBED - Left Hand Path and Clandestine

• MESHUGGAH - Destroy Erase Improve; Catch Thirtytree and obZen

• KRISIUN - Conquers Of Armageddon; Southern Storm and The Great Execution

• DEATHSPELL OMEGA - Si Monvmentvm Reqvires Circvmspice and Drought 

There’s a lot of other inspirations like:

Albums - De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas; Necroticism Descanting The Insalubrious; Unquestionable Presence; Tales From The Thousand Lakes; Master Of Puppets; Ride The Lightning etc.

Bands - Burzum; Bathory; Darkthrone; Isengard; Kreator; Sepultura; Pantera; Black Sabbath; Atheist and many North American Death Metal bands etc.

Rock guitarists - Jimmy Page; David Gilmour; Jimi Hendrix; Keith Richards; Pete Townsend; Duane Allman and even Eddie Van fucking Halen etc.

Could’ve mention so MANY more. Too many to mention here! These ones are all very inspiring right now. Also take note that all those bands listed aren’t my favorite bands. Some might be!

Obviously a white Explorer with EMG 81/60 pickups is a homage to James Hetfield during the 80’s. Also it sounds and looks amazing. But nah ain’t gonna be putting “EET FUK” on it sometime soon. Am aware he used a ESP and not a LTD for that guitar, but you know who owns LTD.

To describe my sound (dislike the word "tone") Blackened Death and if I have to mention some band Angelcorpse comes closest also more North American Death than Swedish. Btw. finally got a 1st print LP of Angelcorpse - Exterminate masterpiece last year (or early 2020?). Being 40 years fucks with my memory I tell you, haha.

At times Death comes to mind, but far from as technically amazing as Chuck Schuldiner. 

The Krisiun albums listed also resemble my music. Unintentionally! Don't get me wrong they’re a brilliant band. I’m not however even near any such perfection as any of my 5 main influences.

Incorporate early Marduk like Fuck Me Jesus; Those Of The Unlight also Heaven Shall Burn..; the Obedience EP and the early Mortuus albums. Plus Funeral Mist especially Maranatha and Salvation are extremely inspiring.

The solos by Fredrik Thordendal of Meshuggah are also a huge inspiration when I record leads.

Want to share my new Funeral Mist merch in this post also. It's obviously the Hekatomb hoodie at the beginning of the post that was released recently. The white t-shirt is a Maranatha also just released, like all others in the post and is limited to 110 copies at Holy Poison.

During the hellish 2020 Arioch/Holy Poison & NoEvDia has been quite busy releasing a cassette-tape album collection box, a hoodie; the DomJord album Sporer & t-shirts (5 new? In Manus Tuas; Maranatha; Pallor Mortiis; Trisagion; Metamorphosis). Maybe some reissued shirt I already own, also ordered a DomJord). Got to get them all of course!

As far as other music collecting during this year I still got a bunch of new releases on vinyl. Of course my ever growing Marduk collection has gotten a bunch of more. On Wednesday I bought a Dark Endless LP (front cover variation) over at Sound Pollution during a Stockholm visit. The first ever official Funeral Mist hoodie arrived on thursday.

Although I’m just happy for him releasing the DomJord project. Sporer is my favorite record of 2020 thus far. Don’t know if any ambient album has become my favorite of a year?

My hope is that Arioch puts together another Funeral Mist album. Even if Hekatomb still feels fresh. The timing seems very fitting for another one.

Another Marduk release would also be fantastic because I don’t see how any concerts will happening in Sweden until 2022.

So my hope is that the guys creativity is high. But just that Fenriz’s Isengard will release a “new” album Vårjevndøgn (recording from 1989 thought to have been lost forever) is more than satisfying. Really looking forward to the new Necrophobic also what I heard so far sounds amazing.

The only t-shirt to be limited to 50 copies is the Trisagion (the one above). My favorite out of the 4 ones is probably the white Maranatha one. The hoodie is really the best here, a top-3 Funeral Mist in my entire collection of theirs and I got MANY.

As far as I know this hoodie isn’t released in limited quantities. My DomJord t-shirt was another 50 copies one.Thanks for your time and hope it doesn't take me forever to do another post. The ranking of all 14 Marduk studio albums has been finished for 8 months and its been 3 years since my original... 

Anyway as always remember to PRAISE HAIL FUNERAL MIST & MARDUK!!

10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF MARANATHA BY FUNERAL MIST

Today on the 23rd of February marks the 10 year anniversary since the release my 3rd favorite album of all time being released.

I own all the vinyl releases of this 2 x LP release. But to get a better picture mainly for my post on Instagram I only picked out 1 LP per release. Forgot to include some t-shirts and stickers on the picture I might fix that. Soon...

Missing some CD releases like The Ajna Offensive and Season Of Mist ones but I'll get those eventually they're not expensive nor hard to come by and I have no hurry.

Here is the 1st print 2009 LP (the one in the middle), the Trisagion 5-LP box 2013 release, the 2017 reissue LP and the original 2009 CD all released on Norma Evangelium Diaboli. It's worth buying that CD alone just for the 28-page booklet that has a lot of additional artwork that appeals to me.

Have mentioned this so many times before... That I don’t like to say any band is my favorite but if I had to pick one Funeral Mist would be my choice. Know that while reading this post.

About 1.5 years ago for my post number 300 on Instagram I listed my top-3 albums. I still stand behind my choices that was made back then.

But I could go into if this is my 3rd favorite record ever or if it’s really The Somberlain (1993) by Dissection. It comes down to how such a list is done but I’m not dedicating this post to that topic.

Will say for sure it’s the best album of this millennium though. Even if the previous Funeral Mist album Salvation (2003) is almost as brilliant.

But to choose between Maranatha or Salvation is also very hard. I mean which is your favorite of these ones?

• Blood Fire Death or Under The Sign Of The Black Mark
• Storm of the Light’s Bane or The Somberlain
• In The Nightside Eclipse or Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk
• Filosofem or Det Som En Gang Var

Can go on with more examples but there’s a very fine line between all those records and I could debate them for days. Also which Funeral Mist release is best.

Have to admit that I didn’t really like Maranatha the first time I heard it. Salvation had set such an extremely high new standard for how Black Metal in the 2000's could sound like. But I also feel that Maranatha isn’t as approachable as Salvation if you ask me.

Not saying Salvation is a commercial Black Metal album because it’s most definitely isn’t.

Think Arioch took a risk with Maranatha I will not go into a song by song review here because I think of it as a whole full experience. He could have failed but he succeeded when some questioned some songs I hail them as brilliancy.

In my opinion Arioch wrote more weirder, twisted & sinister things on Maranatha then on Salvation but we're talking about nitpicking things here. Because both are outstanding masterpieces both albums that bands only could dream about recording once in their entire career.

Know that some don’t like the cover but it’s probably my favorite Funeral Mist artwork. I would at least put it among my top-3 Funeral Mist designs and since their first release Promo 95' there's been so many different artworks inside booklets, on t-shirts, posters and so on.

Anyway the cover art is very fitting for the experience Maranatha gives me. Which with some petty words are very hard to express.

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.

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.

FUNERAL MIST - DEVILRY (1998)

20 years ago Funeral Mist released their debut MCD Devilry on Shadow Records. A year later in 1999 it was also released on LP by the same record label.

Here’s all the different versions I have of this devilish brilliant release:

1998 CD Shadow Records SHADOW 003
1999 LP Shadow Records Shadow 003 with the poster
2005 LP Norma Evangelium Diaboli NED 009 with the poster
2006 CD The Ajna Offensive FLAME 38
2012 CD Season Of Mist SOM 729
2013 LP gatefold Norma Evangelium Diaboli NED 035 (from the Trisagion box comes with a poster)
2017 LP gatefold Norma Evangelium Diaboli NED 009 with the poster

1998 Shadow Records

Missing 3 CD reissues on Norma Evangelium Diaboli. Will get those eventually, but I’m in no hurry.

In the late 90's I became aware of "newer" bands like Malign, Sorhin, Ofermod, Triumphator and of course Funeral Mist. I owned the MCD Here’s No Peace (1997) by Marduk that Marcus Tena had released on his label Shadow Records.

1999 LP Shadow Records

He frequently posted amazing promo ads in a Swedish Metal magazine (see others I scanned on my Instagram @herr_black_metal) and he had a cool store in Stockholm. You can read about my only visit to that short lived store also over at my Instagram.

1999 LP Shadow Records

I became very intrigued by the new wave of bands through reading about them in fanzines. They were really into the Black Metal scene as a lifestyle, something that many other bands at the time had lost. Remember really wanting to hear Malign but I couldn’t find any of their releases and I didn't know how to neither did I dabble with MP3 bullshit. However the Devilry MCD by Funeral Mist was obtainable.

The 5-song MCD was excellent and one could hear the infernal potential Arioch possessed. And that’s how I discovered Funeral Mist.

2005 Norma Evangelium Diaboli

My absolute favorite out of these versions I own is of course the first print vinyl on Shadow Records from 1999 with the poster, insert and the sticker that was limited to 300 copies. It has a bonus song called Hellspell 2 that one was recorded in November of 1998 in the drummer Necromorbus studio. Where Arioch and him also recorded the entire Devilry CD in October 1997 and January 1998.

2006 The Ajna Offensive and 2012 Season Of Mist

All re-releases on CD and LP since 2005 of Devilry after the Shadow Records vinyl have all included 4 additional songs from their Havoc Demo II 1996 and the Hellspell 2 song. Havoc Demo II 1996 was the first Funeral Mist release to feature Arioch as guitarist, bassist and vocalist. On the former demo Darkness (1995) he was the bass player and also backing vocalist.

2013 Norma Evangelium Diaboli (from the Trisagion vinyl box set)

It’s not many other releases in my entire collection that I value as high as that Devilry on Shadow Records because Funeral Mist is my favorite band and Shadow Records have also meant so much for me. And I’m NOT talking about fucking monetary value!

Just what means most to me personally. Like the first print LP of the Dismember brilliant debut Like An Everflowing Stream (1991) that my older sister gave to me in the 90’s is probably my personally most valued. Also when my great friend for almost 25 years Adde of the amazing band Tyrant Wrath gave me his own personal copy of the excellent Pleasure To Kill (1986) by Kreator the first print German vinyl on Noise Records

2017 Norma Evangelium Diaboli 

There’s other releases that I also regard very high in my collection but that Devilry LP truly has a very special place in my collection.

Shadow Records promo ad scanned from an issue of Close-Up Magazine when Devilry was first released. On top the Marduk EP‎ Here's No Peace (1997) that was released on LP in 1998 one year after Shadow Records released the 3-song MCD.

FUNERAL MIST - HEKATOMB (2018) LP and CD song by song review

Even though I don't like to use the term my favorite band. Yes I do think that Funeral Mist is even better then Marduk, Dissection and Emperor the three bands that got me into this genre back in 1994. Even better then other bands that I also rate very high like Darkthrone, Bathory, Burzum, Arcturus and Wardruna. So one could definitely say Funeral Mist is my favorite band.

Didn't think we would ever see another album by Funeral Mist. It's "only" been 9 years since Arioch released Maranatha in 2009 but I thought Arioch/Mortuus was satisfied with Marduk being his main and only musical outlet.

So it was quite a shock when I got the e-mail on June 9th from the Norma Evangelium Diaboli bandcamp saying that Funeral Mist was releasing a new album that was called Hekatomb. It was also being released just 6 days later. Sadly the wait got longer with shipping then on the 15th.

However the album was available to stream via the Bandcamp phone app since the 13th and on their site if you had bought the album there which I had. Usually I mainly listening to my albums on a stereo and preferable on vinyl.

It was so tempting to stream Hekatomb and I admit that I had to do it because I was going literally batshit crazy waiting for it to hear it. My LP and CD came into my possession on Tuesday and I could finally listen to the damn thing properly. One of the two t-shirts also came in that package the other one has been shipped now and the Hekatomb silkscreen poster. Will do a post when I got both t-shirts I now own 9 Funeral Mist ones so I'm missing a few.

Arioch is of course vocalist and play guitar and bass on the record like he has done since the 2nd Funeral Mist release the Havoc Demo II '96. He has the former Marduk drummer Lars Broddesson (2006-2013) or "Lars B" as the booklet say play drums on Hekatomb. Just like on the previous album Maranatha he once again recorded the album in the Marduk bassist Devo Andersson owned Endarker Studio.

I purposely didn’t read any reviews, opinions, comments or even talked with anyone about the Hekatomb album. Even if I’m not an easily impressionable person I wanted my opinion be free of any other persons opinions about it.

Don't know if the people who read my blog follow me on Instagram @herr_black_metal there many will comment or send messages with "great/nice/awesome review". Now I've never considered myself a reviewer even if some seem to think that I am.

So for this post I will try and act as one. That means I cannot factor in expectations only what’s presented on the album. If that make sense? Anyway here we go:

Once again we're cast into the weird twisted sinister realm only Arioch can create and reign with in Funeral Mist.

I really like the cover artwork to Hekatomb it looks nothing like Salvation (2003) or Devilry (1998) and way different then my favorite cover art of them all Maranatha (2009). The rest of the layout is in the same vein as the ones we're familiar with from the previous albums.

Both the CD and LP comes with a lyrics booklet, the CD one has more pictures then the LP one. A big disappointment is that Hekatomb doesn't come with a poster like Funeral Mist LP's usually do, even the reissued vinyls had that. There's a Hekatomb silkscreen that I ordered via Funeral Mist bandcamp. Anyway on with the song by song review:

In Nomine Domini (4:31) is the opening song which in Latin means "in the name of God". After a short intro the bass starts playing in a slow tempo about 50 seconds into the song it takes off and clearly Funeral Mist are fucking back at full force! The tempo slows down again a sample of some Swedish preacher screaming I can only hear clearly "i Jesu namn" which means as you probably can guess "in the name of Jesus" then it intense once again. Perfect opening of the album that seamlessly transcends into the next song.

Naught But Death (4:42) starts of with a great guitar riff, throughout the song a chanting voice is heard in the mix. They blend very well with Arioch's vocals. It's another amazing song and if Funeral Mist played live I would headbang my longhaired scalp through the entire beast of a song.

Shedding Skin (4:48) takes of from the start and it goes fast as hell. Here you can hear why Arioch is in my opinion the best vocalist in the scene and of all time. His vocal approach to the songs of Funeral Mist is very different from what he does in Marduk it sounds much more possessive and demonic. Something bands should take not of this album more or Funeral Mist in general on how to get the right flow on the record. So far the songs on Hekatomb are placed in the perfect order (and it continues throughout the entire album). Anyway Shedding Skin is another masterpiece of a song.

Cockatrice (7:27) the second longest song on Hekatomb. It starts off fast and with guitar playing twisted leads and shouldn't fit the song but it does it continues in the song on occasion. The keyboard is first heard 1.5 min into the song about halfway in they start again to completely take over the song when the tempo drops. A full minute ambient part add much to the mood of the song. Then the other instruments comes back and we're once again in Funeral Mist frantic madness. A lonely slow drum beat ends the song, the same one that goes into the next song.

Metamorphosis (7:35) the longest song on the album. The B-side of the album like I wrote start with the exact drumbeat as the previous one ended with about 30 seconds in the guitar and a low mixed choir join. The slow tempo continues and about half way in the choir chants now higher in the mix.

I don't have any particular favorite songs on the album because Hekatomb is a full experience. But both Cockatrice and Metamorphosis my suggestion is that if your not already completely lost into the Funeral Mist madness listen carefully to those two.

Within The Without (3:13) is the shortest song on the album but in those 3 minutes Arioch pack so much into the song. It starts of fast and frantic the guitar work by Arioch is amazing and drummer Lars B also should get praise for his great performance on the entire album. A church bell (?) chimes in the slow part of the song. It's another amazing song.

Hosanna (4:29) meaning a cry expressing an appeal for divine help. The song is is furious violent extreme aggression perfectly executed. Arioch  or D. "Arioch" Rostén as he call himself in the booklet once again wrote another already classic song.

Pallor Mortis (6:16) the last one on the album is the perfect ending song. It has moments in it that reminds me of the 2 previous albums songs. A frantic child or woman screams in a strange language (Latin?) during the 2 minutes final moments of the song and album. The last song on every Funeral Mist album has always been something special and on Hekatomb it's also a very special song and I'm very pleased with the final song.

8 songs in 43 minutes goes very fast and I’m left wanting more. It’s NOT a complaint I much rather have a superb 43 min experience then a subpar 74 min one. The album is as long as it needs nothing is left by coincidence the placement and pace of every song is perfectly executed. That's my view on Hekatomb as a whole it sounds excellent both the performance by Arioch and Lars B are phenomenal so is the production in the Endarker Studio once again.

The album sounds like how I imagined or dreamed a followup to Maranatha should sound like. Hekatomb is much closer to that album musically then Salvation.

If I had to give it a review rating score it's 10 of 10. The best Black Metal masterpiece I've heard in many many years.

Now for the final question is this better then their previous albums?

Well certainly better then Devilry but I can't say that Hekatomb is better then neither Salvation or my favorite Funeral Mist release Maranatha but its not far away from those two in my opinion.

Even if favorites can change and great albums tends to grow on you. Take for instance Mayhem's masterpiece De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas (1994) when I heard it for the first time in the mid 90's I thought it was a great album. But I didn't know that it would become my all time favorite record until years later. When I summarize the year 2018 or if I even do a a re-review of Hekatomb in 3-6 months who knows what I feel about it then?


Have gotten the 2 t-shirts and the poster so here they are: