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This is pretty good black metal, especially since the guitarist is good and the drummer knows something other than blast beats. Blast beats are cool, but some bands (i.e. Emperor) have a tendency to overdo them. Good music. Not much else to say.
Well, I wrote a review for this a few years ago, but have sinced changed opinions. This is some very raw black metal, and the sound quality is really poor. However, if you can stand to listen to it loud enough, this album sky rockets in its worth. At a higher volume, you can hear a much more complicated guitar line, and even some hints of a keyboard, but the keyboard is absoluty buried, if I wasn't imagining it. The most problematic aspect of this album is that at a more usual volume, many of this songs a) sound horrible, and b) sound the same. For fans of the genre, it's going to be a worthwhile listen, but if you're just getting into black metal, you may want to put off purchasing this one.
Dark Funeral is one of those Black Metal bands that knows how to make music that will appeal to fans of the genre. They know the key elements to making a song sound dark, atmospheric, evil, powerful etc (I think that's why they named the cd 'Secrets to the Black Arts). If you haven't heard any Dark Funeral albums, then this is a good one to start with. I place Dark Funeral very high on the Black Metal plate, as they have accomplished what many other B/M bands wish they could. Dark Funeral break the speed limit on every track of this cd and are not boring for 1 second. This is one that will visit the cd player more often. The best way to describe their sound is...a hypnotic wall of dark and furious intensity in organized madness. This is coming from a Black Metal fan who has been listening to Black Metal for over 10 years, and I've heard a lot of it, and nothing has ever come close to this, and probably never will (except Dark Funeral's first self titled CD which is out of print but it has been reissued with 2 bonus tracks under the name 'In The Sign', now that is a CD from HELL).
HAIL DARK FUNERAL......"SAAAAAAAAYYYYYTAAAAAAAAAAN".
This isnt that mainstream Black Metal like Cradle of Filth or Dimmu Borgir, this is the real stuff. I love Dark Funeral, they are oneof my favorite bands. They have a great feel to them as you listen to their music. You want to keep listening to it. This is probably one of their best albums. If your into real Black Metal, then buy this album, and also check out bands like: Marduk Gorgoroth 1349 Mayhem Carpathian Forest Burzum
Young Satanists are sure to find inspiration in the demonic screaming of Dark Funeral's young Themgoroth. Their music is also some of the hardest out there, especially on this first LP. With lyrics truelly hell inspired and full of both anger towards humanity and fidelity for Lucifer, this album leaves those sympathetic to the Devil truely pleased and uplifted. This album is basically a "worship album" for Satan. Each song can be considered a "Satanic hymn." On "Satan's Mayhem", vocalist Themgoroth bewales his earthly suffering, imploring his Master to grant him entrance into Hell: "Satan/the Horned Emperor of depths/...grant me the strength for my journey/...Father, show mercy upon my tormented soul/reveal the darkened path to the realms of Hell/...Lord, why have you abandoned me?/Why have you ignored my prayers?" On "My Dark Desires," the obsession with Hell continues: "Satan/take my soul to Hell/I must burn in the unholy flames/I must burn to purify my weak soul." "Fire Eternal" is the same theme, and why not? Xtians sing of Heaven; why should traditional Satanists not sing of Hell? Normal metalheads won't "get" this band much the same way they wouldn't get a Xtian metal band like Focal Point or Mortification. This band praises Satan through their music, which is clearly not for the soulless masses. Favorites on this album are: My Dark Desires, Fire Eternal, and Satan's Mayhem. Also check out their EP "In the Sign[of the Horns]," which contains an excellent rendition of Bathory's "Equimanthorn" as well as the original version of "My Dark Desires" where the Crowley soundbite is clearer.
A dark funeral for thee, February 24, 2004
Second take on this cd., November 25, 2005
