And the winner of the first Black Metal album to be released on a major label is! "Volcano by Satyricon", beating Cradle Of Filth by 4 clear months. When a major label puts it's money where it's mouth is you know it has to be good and good is an understatement, this is verging on brilliant.
This is Melodic Black Metal at it's best, in fact the track "Fuel For Hate" could be described as a bouncy Black Metal pop song, happy would be the wrong word but you get the idea. Not that this is all sweetness and light as "Possessed " shows, because it isn't, this is first and foremost a Black Metal CD and it knows when to be aggressive and when to pour on the melody.
The final track "Black Lava" is a mournful 14 minute plus epic, as stark, cold and bleak as any Scandinavian winter that hold the attention all the way. I will leave the final words to my friend and occasional contributor Arathorn.
Satyricon is bloody fantastic there is that fantastic cold feeling (the reason i got into Black Metal in the first place) the last track really is mid 90's black metal but somehow doesn't sound old and Fuel Hatred is bouncey black metal without selling out Satyricon claim "THE THRONE" quote me! Emperor have left the building Satyricon burn the f*** down like it's a church !!!!!!!!!!!!!