MARDUK LP COVER ARTWORK VARIATIONS part II

Nightwing 2010

Like the title suggests today we will check out 4 other Marduk cover art variants. If you are interested check out part 1.

• Nightwing (1998) reissued by Blooddawn Productions 2010
• Dark Endless (1992) reissued by Black Lodge Records 2018
• Germania (1997) reissued by Blooddawn Productions 2008
• Germania (1997) 2xLP reissued by Osmose Productions 2020

All of them except for Dark Endless, that was released by No Fashion Records, were originally released by Osmose Productions. During the Legion era of the band.

Don't know why they changed the title from Live In Germania? Either way it's a suitable title anyway for that record and I like even a big change like that because Germania sounds more uncertain rather than a "Live In" before.

This could be a long series because of my quite substantial Marduk collection. Will eventually do this with CD’s also.

Posted this over at my Instagram account @herr_perdition. This a post might rather be more suiting for my @herr_marduk account that's obvious. But I a had question for my followers so of course I'm gonna take advantage of the one who is about "10 times as big". Selfish excuse of course but I'm a selfish bastard anyway.

My question was:

"Can someone answer how one release music online nowadays? Especially you youngsters! Is it Bandcamp, Spotify etc. even for a non-pro like myself? I never intend to use Google Drive. 

It doesn’t seem like it’s something serious. Although I haven’t made up my mind yet 100% about releasing anything. This isn’t about me trying to get 50 cents in streaming/digital buys, haha. It would just be cool to be able to say I’ve released a 3-track trilogy Black Metal EP.

The best alternative would be a 7” limited to VERY few numbered copies. Hehe nah nor the music or me ain’t good enough for that, yet"

Got a lot of positive response, even if I'm also known as Herr Physical Media, it seem Bandcamp is the way to go online. If I will get around to release my music that is... Anyway let us move on.

A very productive time on Instagram (4 posts in about 7-8 days). Maybe even more impressive 4 songs written and recorded (3 still in demo stage). The 3 of them are pure Black Metal and they are also part a trilogy I'm making.

Nightwing is my least favorite Marduk studio full length record of all time. The original cover artwork is alright. This 2010 gatefold is perfect!

Mortuus isn't just the best Black Metal vocalist ever his brilliant aesthetic eye is perfectly done in my humble opinion.

Inside the Nightwing 2010 gatefold

Excellent cover art, band photos, insert, poster etc. Mortuus/Arioch really did an amazing job here. Get this version of Nightwing both non that goes for both diehards and casual fans of the band.

Sure I know about the cheap and ugly boring versions that Osmose keeps on to pumping out a bunch each year with the original cover art. With some pink, yellow, red splatter bloody puke etc. vinyl. 

Since this is one of the 1st prints I don't own. Have a black or green (?) LP of the 2016 Osmose release with something that is very close to the original cover artwork. There's some other differences in the logo, album title font and the artwork cover color is much darker too.

See the back of the record sleeve further down.

The included poster really wish I had more wallspace.

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This red Dark Endless 2018 release is my latest addition to my Marduk collection and record collection that I bought at Sound Pollution during a Stockholm visit approx 2 weeks ago.

Very simple looking cover art for some reason the red with just their logo makes me think this is some sort of Marduk compilation album.

Dark Endless 2018

Nothing special, nor terrible is all I can say about this variation. However it kind of remind me of some compilation album. Great artwork on the back sleeve though the record insert ain’t nothing too special.

For the non super fans there’s plenty of cheap LP’s with the original cover art that's in my opinion a better buy.

Like the 2012 Century Media one, they really did it very well to replicate the 1st print edition LP design. Which I both like and dislike but that's a topic for another post.

Back of the sleeves Nightwing on the left and Dark Endless to the right.

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The “super glossy/reflecting” version. Can’t almost get a descent photo of the fucker. Altogether great looking design but the sleeve material gives minus points. It bends the sleeve also so someone made a shitty decision somewhere. 

Germania 2008

With all the filters for lightning and so on from Photoshop or iPhone picture editing it isn't as obvious that it's a "super glossy/reflecting" sleeve. But trust me it ain't pretty in reality great that they 12 years later choose a matt carbon sleeve.

Other than that I can't complain about the sleeve artwork I actually think it's really good and it's my kind of design.

The back sleeves Germania 2020 to the left and 2008 to the right.

It was “reinvented and reinforced at Endarker July 2007” to me it doesn’t sound that different. Since I grew up and was 17 years when I got the Live In Germania CD at or close to release at the end of the summer 1997 I will say the Dan Swanö is better. You might think different?

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Germania 2020

Fabulous layout and cover variation on this one. Don’t know if it’s Arioch/Mortuus work because it doesn’t tell who designed it but this version does resemble his kind of style. 

Great insert also I will only share 2 pictures from it here because I think something should be left for those who buy it.

The now ex. Marduk bassist Devo remastered this one in his Endarker Studio November 2019.

Of course a 2xLP is gonna sound better than the 2008 single LP and it does a really good job.

Even if I don't mind the double vinyls the 3 songs per LP side can be a bit frustrating at times.

Especially when a release only got 12-songs and all of them are on the rather short side. 

Actually don’t like it being on a 2xLP album that should have been exclusive to the original 2xLP 1997 vinyl.

The picture to the left here is the gatefold inside. Also 2 pictures from the 4-page insert that is included with this release.

I've actually done 4 posts now in about 7 or 8 days over at my Instagram accounts @Herr_Perdition and @die_wahren_MARDUK/@Herr_Marduk.

I cannot for the life of me remember when I was as creative both on this blog and/or my Instagram. Hope to keep this double creativity up and be inspired musically as I have been.

You know this where coming last! And as always PRAISE HAIL MARDUK!!

The Return...... of Darkness and Die Wahren Marduk or @Herr_Marduk so called rambling post

Well hello there friends! Longtime no see...

Where the hell have I been. The urge to write just disappeared there for awhile also got really sick and tired with Instagram. It wasn't any particular reason or anything like that. I just enjoyed the summer of 2019 and between holidays in the sun worked my ass off at my work. As usual and as I will do tomorrow until Friday afternoon.

During its peak @herr_perdition had MANY followers (and no this ain't an obituary) never thought that would happen. When I first started posting a bunch old Black and Death promo material scanned from my old fanzines, magazines etc. Something that was so very important for me back in the 90's.

Probably for many others as well. I mean that Moonfog ad! If you don't know which one I'm referring to get the fuck out here. Right now! Nah just kidding. 

Already during the 80's this weird Swedish youth magazine Okej impacted me. Remember seeing all these amazing Heavy Metal album cover artworks from Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Ozzy, WASP, Black Sabbath etc. usually on the back page of the magazine.

I got both freaked out but also curious especially for Conspiracy (1989) by King Diamond. although it would take a couple of moons before owning my own CD copy. With Okej being a weird magazine I mean they featured everything from Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer (later even Morbid Angel and Dismember actually have those issues) to Samantha Fox boobs to Mötley Crüe to Duran Duran  to Vanilla Ice and so on. Okej were as 80's as the 80's could ever be.

However returning to my point, it got quite stale to write about albums I owned either on both on LP and/or CD with just ads after awhile. So that was the reason for me sharing my collection rather just scanning a bunch of old zines. Taking photos with my iphone proved to be easier.

But let's move on to the present day November day. Don’t you ever dare to think I have slowed downed on my vinyl, CD etc. collecting or Marduk listening!

Naturally got a much better Marduk collection going nowadays also started a new Instagram account. Search for @herr_marduk or the alternative name 𝓭𝓲𝓮 𝔀𝓪𝓱𝓻𝓮𝓷 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐔𝐊.

Only xxx posts so far, some are just reruns from my other account, although the focus will on that band. Perhaps also other ones closely associated with Marduk might appear like Funeral Mist, Abruptum, Overflash, Allegiance, Triumphator etc. Although I got almost too much Marduk stuff to show before all of that... 

Like vinyls, promo-CD’s, t-shirts other merch, tour/concert flyers, albums with alternative covers and soon even a fucking Panzer Division jigsaw puzzle and a ton more. Only a few followers so far but it has only existed since last Sunday even if I don't fucking care if I have followers or not. It's mainly for me and "the true" Marduk fans hehe.

Upcoming posts include the top-14 full length studio albums list, promo-CD collection, a "complete EP vinyl" collection and a bunch more. Everything posted there will appear on the blog also when they have been published over at @herr_marduk / 𝓭𝓲𝓮 𝔀𝓪𝓱𝓻𝓮𝓷 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐔𝐊.

Want to write here and now what I have been listening to also at the moment besides just Marduk. An amazing great year for Black Metal in 2019 I must say, bought so many gems the year. I have started buying them for a long while now preferably on standard black vinyl for some reason kind of feed up with 10+ versions of each new album. What more have I been listening too? Well...

Got really into this little unknown band called fucking Meshuggah. Never thought that would happen in a million years!

The first time I think I even heard of Meshuggah was live in my hometown during the summer of 1994 or it could’ve been 1995?

It was a free show located at a park in my hometown with a terrible sound I remember but me and my 14-15 year old friends were still in the pit and stage dived. Got a hard elbow on right on my teeth, that I do remember.

That show is not listed over at setlist.fm and my only memory it was either in June or July maybe even in August. Soon being a 40 years old man does shit to ones memory I'll tell you. Not living the "clean life" might do stuff too, but who the fuck cares. One got to live life at the fullest!

Hated that Meshuggah shit back then now I love “that Meshuggah shit”. Okay so hate might be a too much harsh of a word but they were just there never really gave them any attention until I saw two things showing up on my YouTube feed. No words just check them out:


I’m enjoying their entire discography. Truly brilliant performances especially by Fredrik Thordendal and Tomas Haake.

Not trying to put down any of the other members. All the guys in that band are all true geniuses! But I do miss Fredrik in the band nowadays. Also hate (permanent?) replacing member Per Nilsson’s ugly fucking guitar, good guitar player though but I'm not into his other bands. Gonna be amazing to see them live in the summer of 2019 at a festival in my hometown.

Actually collecting all their albums mainly on digipack CD seems fitting for that band. However if I stumble across a 1st print vinyl for a great deal there would be no hesitation on my side.

Besides Meshuggah, Marduk and the amazing 2019 albums I'm also totally in a Death Metal phase at the ime. Many North American bands especially Death and Angelcorpse. 

Cannibal Corpse, Deicide and of course some guys called Morbid Angel have been played a whole lot. There are too many more to even mention. My main focus of years are 1991-93 but also 1988-90 with the exception of Angelcorpse and couple of others bands.

Got to give a special mention to Krisiun from Brazil, that's one hell of a band! I just isn't playing my North American records because of course other bands like Dismember, Entombed (1990 to 1993), Carcass, Pestilence, Bolt Thrower, Unleashed + many more.

Anyway have to see which direction my @herr_peredition account Instagram will take. Feel like I want to change things up a bit there. Might just leave most of the writing here at the blog where I can express myself better without being restricted with letters used per post.

However that can also be my downfall not getting posts ready to publish because I tend to write and rewrite things for too long. You haven't seen what happened with my 2 part series of Bathory posts, they were about 95% more or less already finished to be published on the blog. Somehow I thought it were "impossible" to post it for some reason on Instagram.

Will probably mainly focus on the @herr_marduk account for the time being. If Marduk ain't your thing I probably have written 20+ finished or very close to, unpublished posts for other bands albums and lists both for Instagram and the blog.

All quite old by now haven’t been “inspired” enough to write especially long posts but feel the urge returning. Although I’m already rambling on too much here now...

Did you read the entire thing?
Phallelujah!

MARDUK COVER ARTWORK VARIATIONS part I

In my previous post on Instagram I didn't go into why I have 5 different copies (1 picture disc LP and 4 CD) of Obedience (2000). Because I'm fucking crazy... Well maybe? Should do a blog post about those also but managed to fuck up some of the pictures, it's coming some day.

I just want every different cover artwork Marduk have ever released even if it's on LP or CD. Also want to add that these 4 vinyls in this post are all quite cheap. At least when I got most of them about a year ago.

Would be nice to own every LP print someday but with all the Osmose Productions re-releases of many albums that they do every year in every possible color. I don't see that will be possibility for a foreseeable future sadly but I got time and patience.

All these records in this post are as you can see (hopefully) the 4 first Marduk full length albums. Got more cover art variations in my "quite vast"  Marduk collection. Stay tuned for lots of more parts in this series.

As far as the music goes on the records I don't even need to go deep into why all these 4 albums are mandatory for every Black Metal fan out there to have in their collection.

Usually hate whenever a band/label fucks with the cover artwork and these ain't no different. One can just in a millisecond see that's not how it supposed to look like.

However me being very passionate about my Marduk collecting, the band who clearly take up most space in my entire collection. I also don't think its absolutely necessarily to think every item in it must be a perfect 10 out of 10 release.

Being as off as these are I still find them all to be a bit charming. Also the rest of the layout and pictures are amazing so just for that reason it's a great investment for Marduk my collection.

 Heaven Shall Burn... When We Are Gathered (1996) already had terrible cover art. But I definitely don't think this 2008 Blooddawn Productions release as an improvement of the original 1996 one.

Also dislike the "glossy sleeves" these are for the most packed in.

The remaster of Heaven Shall Burn... When We Are Gathered was done in the Endarker Studio in 2004. It sounds good but has the weakest sound of these 4 remasters. This has actually became my favorite album from the "Legion era" in about a years time but more about that in another post.

It also got some bonus tracks from a demo 4-track recording done in June of 1995. Those songs are not listed anywhere on this release. I do enjoy them very much although I heard and owned them all before for quite some time on their box set and the 2 LP's of Blackcrowned (2002).

Probably the most ugly looking out of these 4 vinyls is the 2008 Regain Records LP of my favorite Marduk album of all time Opus Nocturne (1994). It's just a nightmare and I don't keep it anywhere close to my 1st print black LP version in my Marduk collection.

It got 3 bonus tracks, studio rehearsals of Sulphur Souls; Materialized In Stone and Opus Nocturne (sadly with no vocals) from April 1994.

None of those are rare as they were also included on their Blackcrowned release but there we were treated with Autumnal Reaper as well. They do reappeared somewhere else if my memory serves me right?

The 2008 Opus Nocturne reissue was also remastered in the Endarker Studio in 2004. It sounds very similar to the original recording.

I do think the Those Of The Unlight (1993) artwork from this 2006 Regain Records LP looks more then alright. However what I looked at as a 14 year old in 1994 on the CD booklet is in the back of my mind and is clearly the better of the two.

Its pictures and layout inside the gatefold release is the best out of these 4 in my humble opinion.

This 2006 LP release of course doesn't have the 3 bonus live video songs as the two 2006 CD's had of Darkness Breeds Immortality; A Sculpture Of The Night and The Funeral Seemed To Be Endless. However they are included on the "official bootleg" Strigzscara - Warwolf (2015) recorded in their own hometown Norrköping in December of 1993.

Should mention that the 2006 Regain Records LP and 2 CD releases (European & N. American) have 3 different cover artworks. Insane maybe... Those CD's are green and black instead of red and black as the LP.

As with the others Those Of The Unlight from 2006 was remastered by Devo Andersson in his Endarker Studio. I can hear a distinction from the original release but still very close to that one, it's not like this an entire new record.

Last out their debut album Dark Endless (1992) originally released on the legendary No Fashion Records on vinyl as well. This Blooddawn release is from 2008. Also want to say there are more different cover artworks variants of this album.

Must say although I'm not a fan of the original artwork that this is my 2nd favorite Dark Endless cover after the original 1992 release.

This one has 5 live bonus songs Departure From The Mortals; Within The Abyss; Still Fucking Dead; The Black Goat and Evil Dead recorded live in 1991. Also released as another "official bootleg" EP in 2015 on a 4 song 7" called Ancient Evil.

It not stated where the remastering of Dark Endless took place on the release but I would guess once again by Devo in the Endarker Studio. Repeating myself but it sounds great I do think out of the 4 Dark Endless and Heaven Shall Burn... sounds the weakest of them though.


So do I recommend getting these versions? If you don't have a copy of any of the albums on vinyl I would go with something that looks more like the original releases. If you don't care about that thing I go for it and leave these to us die hard fans.

And as ALWAYS PRAISE HAIL MARDUK!! 

MARDUK - HERE'S NO PEACE - SHADOW RECORDS LP (1998) & CD (1997)

One of my favorite releases in my entire Marduk collection is this 12" picture disc vinyl that comes with a poster limited to 500 copies on Shadow Records from 1998. The CD had been released a year earlier by the same label.

It's not one of my most expensive Marduk vinyls. However not saying it's a cheap and easy release to come by especially with the poster. And yes the poster edges are supposed to look like it has been torn/ripped.

The combination of Marduk, being one of my favorite bands ever, on one of the best record labels ever from my country Shadow Records. That makes it such a much more valuable release too me then any monetary aspect.

The history behind the Here's No Peace release is one interesting story. Recorded in December of 1991 with Dan Swanö at his Unisound/Hellspawn/Gorysound Studio. It was the second time ever that Marduk made a recording since their first and only demo Fuck Me Jesus from June 1991.

Over at Metal Archives it says that Here's No Peace supposedly were going to be released as a 7" on the North American label Necropolis Records.

But I'm going with what is being said in the first Marduk interview I ever read. Issue number 5 from November 1992 of the Swedish Close-Up Magazine with the now only remaining original member and founder of Marduk Morgan Håkansson (guitar).

Where he states that it would be to released on a German label called Slaughter Records as a 7" vinyl. Somehow that never happened and Morgan tells what a total fuck-up that guy was. The article says it would be called Here's No Fucking Silence.

Finally in October of 1997 Marcus Tena's Shadow Records released the recording on CD it being the 2nd release ever on that label. Another favorite in my Marduk collection is a picture disc version from 1997 of the Marduk album Heaven Shall Burn... When We Are Gathered (1996) it was the first ever release on Shadow Records.

The original Here's No Peace CD has 3 songs:
Here's No Peace (instrumental intro)
Still Fucking Dead
Within The Abyss.

A year later when Shadow Records released this picture disc 12" they added 2 more songs. Both being Bathory covers In Conspiracy With Satan and Woman Of Dark Desire.

Marduk are good at doing covers but Bathory is a hard band to try emulating their own sound too especially those older songs. They were already so perfectly recorded by the legendary Bathory. Not complaining though it's a great addition to the vinyl release.

Both appeared on the compilation In Conspiracy With Satan - A Tribute To Bathory (1998). That David "Blackmoon" Parland (1970 - 2013) ex. guitarist for Dark Funeral, Necrophobic but also the bands Infernal and War released on his Hellspawn Records with bands like Nifelheim, Emperor, Unanimated, Ophthalamia, Satyricon etc.

Marduk had already released a Bathory cover of The Return Of Darkness And Evil in 1996 on their Glorification EP. Out of those 3 covers my favorite one is probably Woman Of Dark Desire.

But about the original Marduk songs here Within The Abyss had already appeared on the Fuck Me Jesus recording which I do think is the best version of that song.

It's also featured on their debut album Dark Endless (1992) in my opinion the Here's No Peace one is better then the record one also.

At the time Marduk had a Death/Black Metal sound until the release of their second album Those Of The Unlight (1993) which is straight forward Black Metal. That is also one of the best records ever from the Swedish scene.

Still Fucking Dead (Here's No Peace) as it called on Dark Endless that No Fashion Records released is another excellent version but I do prefer the recording on the Here's No Peace release.

As much as I do like the debut album the recordings before sounds more raw, unfiltered with a more meaner sound to it is the best way I can describe them.

At the time of the Here's No Peace recording the Marduk line-up consisted of:
- Morgan Håkansson (guitar)
- Joakim Göthberg (drummer 1990-1993 later vocalist from 1993 to 1995)
- Andreas Axelsson (vocals 1990-93)
- Rickard Kalm (bass 1990-92)

The same personal had recorded the Fuck Me Jesus demo but for their debut Dark Endless they had added Devo Andersson (guitar). Who made his first performance with Marduk on a release with that album.

Here's No Peace is definitely a most have for any Marduk fan. I consider it to be the 2nd best EP they have ever made. It was also my gateway into Shadow Records with the 1997 CD release me being a huge fan of Marduk.

For any casual fans of the band I do recommend getting it also. Although you might don't want to try hunt down a copy of the 12" Shadow Records vinyl, the 1997 CD isn't near as expensive as that one.

Believe all the songs also appear on some CD reissues if you want to go down that route instead.

Here's No Peace was reissued on Marduk's own Blooddawn Productions in 2001 on a 10" vinyl that one comes in a sleeve. Have huge buyers remorse for not getting that one at a record fair in my hometown a couple of years ago for what was a great deal then.

Later it was also released on CD by Regain Records in 2007 that has a colored cover artwork. I don't own that particular one yet.

My intention is to own a copy of every different artwork Marduk has used for each album and/or EP and there's a ton of them especially from the Regain Records era.

Usually don't like whenever cover artworks gets altered but Marduk being the band by far taking up most space in my entire collection I want to see that collecting goal through. Have a long way to get to that point especially with the CD's but ain't in any kind of hurry.

Not trying to brag and boast but really got one amazing deal on this Shadow Records LP in the autumn of last year over at a Swedish auction site. Actually one of my top-10 maybe even top-5 finds ever.

Also expect a lot of more Marduk content to be posted. Been really into them for the last couple of months I have been filling "almost all" the gaps I had in my EP/7" vinyl collection. Got a bunch of "new posters" and I want to post my old 90's concert flyers plus the 3 DVD's that I've rewritten so many times for more than a year...

Some may think that Here's No Peace is sparse of content but I don't get that opinion. Not only are the songs amazing but also a very early recording in the Swedish Black Metal scene and for me that makes it even more interesting. Also always interested to hear how Dan Swanö progressed with his Unisound recorded releases.

Anyway that was Here's No Peace a lot of other information but have been on a Instagram and blog hiatus for a couple of weeks due to some health issues.

Forever, eternally and as always PRAISE HAIL MARDUK!!

MARDUK - OPUS NOCTURNE (1994)

1st print black vinyl limited to 700 copies released on Osmose Productions in 1994. Also released on a green vinyl limited to 300 copies that one is expensive as hell these days... Not that anyone could say my version is cheap nowadays exactly...

If I had to pick out a couple of Black Metal albums that were most essential for me getting into the Black Metal genre back in 1994 Opus Nocturne would definitely be one of those records.

Together with the albums The Somberlain by Dissection, Into The Nightside Eclipse by Emperor and Pure Holocaust by Immortal they all meant so much me in 1994.

They were the gateway records that showed me just how much music could have an effect on me and the path my life took.

The progression Marduk made with the Opus Nocturne album from their previous ones Dark Endless (1992) and Those Of The Unlight (1993) is immensely huge.

From the Black/Death Metal feeling in the early days on their only demo Fuck Me Jesus (1991) and the Here's No Peace recording. That were recorded in December of 1991 but not released until 1997.

The debut album Dark Endless also got that Black Death Metal sound. While their 2nd album Those Of The Unlight is pure Black Metal and probably the most unique recording Marduk did in the 90's.

Been many phases during the 29 year old history of Marduk and Opus Nocturne became a end of an era record for them.

It was Joakim Af Gravf (vocalist 1993-95/drummer 1990-93) last album with the band. Also their last release to be recorded with Dan Swanö at his Unisound/Hellspawn/Gorysound Studio.

Swanö whom Marduk had worked with since their first and only demo Fuck Me Jesus (1991).

Have to admit that Opus Nocturne was a bit harder for me to get into then The Somberlain (yeah I know Metal of Death...) and Into The Nightside Eclipse. Remember immediately liking my favorite Marduk songs ever Sulphur Souls and The Sun Has Failed though.

Also Materialized In Stone and the title track Opus Nocturne with vocals and lyrics by Tony "It" Särkkä (1972-2017) from Abruptum, Vondur etc. That one sounds like something Ophthalamia (another band It had formed in 1989) could have recorded it was a very unusual Marduk song.

Just a few listens in I liked From Subterranean Throne Profound; Autumnal Reaper; Wolves (Part 2: Untrodden Paths) and Deme Quaden Thyrane almost as much as my favorites. Opus Nocturne grew into a beast for me.

I could have the CD on repeat for hours and still find new things on each and every song it was truly a magical time in my life.

Opus Nocturne was released late in 1994 and in February of 1995 Marduk together with label mates Enslaved did a tour called the Winter War Tour 95. As they had done on the previous tour with Sons Of Northern Darkness with Immortal a special split shirt was made with the Marduk and Enslaved logos on the longsleeve arms. Those two are my most wanted shirts of all time.

Photos by user "maidenthrone" on tshirtslayer.com.

Marduk basically had the same line-up as the record on the tour: Morgan Håkansson (guitar), B.War (bass), Joakim Af Gravf (vocals), Fredrik Andersson (drums) but added Kim Osara as a session/live  guitarist.

Marduk and Enslaved's Winter War Tour 95 lasted from the 7th of February until the 26th of the same month with no dates off. They played in Austria, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Like mentioned many times before I used to buy/trade live bootleg filmed VHS-cassette tapes in the mid to late 90's. Marduk were one of the bands always had my eye out for.

The first one I got from the Winter War Tour 95 was recorded at Marseille, France on May the 17th. I do remember hating all effects they put on the video but it was still amazing.

It's on YouTube and I'm glad for that because I don't have to mess with my old VHS-cassettes. Even if I got stuff by some bands that's not out on YouTube.

Included the Marseille concert in this post and the setlist Marduk played are:

Sulphur Souls
From Subterranean Throne Profound
Wolves
The Sun Has Failed
A Sculpture Of The Night
Materialized In Stone
Deme Quaden Thyrane
The Black...
Untrodden Paths (Wolves, Part II)
On Darkened Wings
Autumnal Reaper 

Many songs from Opus Nocturne really glad they played A Sculpture Of The Night from Those Of The Unlight but also ones that aren't played now like: From Subterranean Throne Profound, The Sun Has Failed, Deme Quaden Thyrane, Untrodden Paths (Wolves, Part II) & Autumnal Reaper.


Those tour dates became as far as I know the last shows with Joakim Af Gravf as vocalist with the band. Everything he did with Marduk were brilliant in my opinion. Joakim Göthberg which is his real name did a guest appearance on the Rom 5:12 (2007) album.

Joakim was replaced by Erik "Legion" Hagstedt in 1995. Legion was previously in Ophthalamia and were vocalist on their excellent 2nd album Via Dolorosa (1995).

Like many other bands did at the time Marduk started recording at The Abyss Studio for the follow-up Heaven Shall Burn... When We Are Gathered (1996) with Peter Tägtgren from Hypocrisy.

At first I hated the production on that album but now I actually regard it as the best album of the "Legion era". I changed my opinion drastically on that record since I ranked all Marduk albums about 2 years ago. Okay it's almost a tie with Panzer Division Marduk (1999) but a topic for a future post.

The legacy that Opus Nocturne left behind 25 years later is as strong as it was back in 1994. At least for me. Whenever I hear Joakim screaming "praise hail Satan" in the beginning of Sulphur Souls I know it's a 43 minutes ride into the BEST SWEDISH BLACK METAL of the 90's.

It's not my nostalgia for this album talking! As always Praise Hail Marduk!

Bonus! The Marduk and Immortal split shirt from the Sons Of Northern Darkness tour. Picture from user "fab cas" on tshirtslayer.com.

MARDUK - WARSCHAU (2005)

On a reissue gold double vinyl that comes with a poster to limited 200 copies released on Century Media in 2018.

I also included the cover variant that's on the slipcase from the 2005 CD. It's the same image inside the gatefold but that one is slightly altered. I really enjoy the design of this vinyl release.

It’s been awhile since I posted something on Marduk have owned this record for months now so it’s about damn time to write about it. Have been caught up in the music by Bathory for quite some time now.

This release was done to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Marduk. Since Mortuus/Arioch had joined and Devo had returned to the band this were their 3rd release.

Warschau is in my opinion the very best Marduk live album. If I was to rate it among my favorite Black Metal live records of all time it would be very high up there. Definitely a top-3 worthy release.

What makes it special is the unfiltered, raw, harsh recording. While Live In Germania (1997) felt like it had quite many things rerecorded in the studio.

The songs are of course very important whenever a band releases a live record. Already 15 years ago when this was recorded Marduk had released 9 studio albums and a bunch of EP’s. So there’s a lot to choose from.

Great to hear Mortuus do vocals on 5 of the old classics from when Andreas Axelsson (1990-93) and Joakim Af Gravf (1993-95)  were vocalists. The songs are pretty predictable though:

• The Black...
• Burn My Coffin
• On Darkned Wings
• Wolves
• Sulphur Souls

Also the 6 ones from the Legion era, the 3 last are from World Funeral (2003). I don't mind that at all even if I rate it their 3rd "worst" album I also rate it maybe their most underrated record:

• Slay The Nazarene
• Panzer Division Marduk
• Azrael
• With Satan And Victorious Weapons
• Bleached Bones
• To The Death's Head True

6 of the 17 songs on this album are from the then almost 1 year old Plague Angel (2004) that do I consider to be my 4th favorite Marduk album. I got no complains about the songs from that one:

• The Hangman Of Prague
• Seven Angels, Seven Trumpets
• Blutrache
• Steel Inferno
• Throne Of Rats
• Warschau

Always when a band got such an amazing and extensive discography as Marduk one will always wish for own personal favorites. Even if they did many from Heaven Shall Burn... When We Are Gathered (1996) on the Live In Germania album with Legion. I wanted at least 1 or more songs from that record.

Others I personally would like them to have recorded are some more from the Dark Endless (1992) and Fuck Me Jesus (1991) releases. Only one from my favorite Marduk album Opus Nocturne (1994) is far too few. I would be pleased with just one of these From Subterranean Throne Profound, The Sun Has Failed or Materialized In Stone..

But enough about the songs who is on it or isn't! It's the performance that I'm most pleased with.

Warschau was recorded in the city with the same name, Warsaw in English, located in Poland during their Deathmarch Tour in September of 2005.

What makes this the best Marduk live album is not just because it sounds fucking amazing. Once again I’ve got to give praise to Mortuus for this who I consider to be the best vocalist in the entire Black Metal scene.

Said this many times before but what he has done in Marduk, Funeral Mist and do not forget about Triumphator has only been beaten once. By Attila Csihar on the best album of all time the Mayhem classic De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas (1994).

I highly recommend buying the phenomenal Marduk DVD Blood Puke Salvation (2006). It was also was recorded during the tour for the Plague Angel album mostly during December of 2004.

And as always Praise Hail Marduk!

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.