Funeral Mist - Maranatha (2009)

Funeral Mist - Maranatha

Label: Norma Evangelivm Diaboli (aka NoEvDia), 2009

1.     Sword of Faith     04:34
2.     White Stone     04:13
3.     Jesus Saves!     08:12
4.     A New Light     04:51
5.     Blessed Curse     11:53
6.     Living Temples     06:28
7.     Anathema Maranatha     06:10
8.     Anti-Flesh Nimbus     07:14


"Maranatha" saw its release in 2009 and received mixed reviews from both fans and press. Some people panned the CD, implying that the album by no means reaches the quality of the godly "Salvation", some people said, that "Salvation" is never ever to be topped to start with. While I do consider "Salvation" to be one of the best jewels to ever be produced in Sweden, "Maranatha" left a deep impact on me as well.

Starting with the glorious "Sword Of Faith" and finishing with the epic masterpiece "Anti-Flesh Nimbus", this album delivers nothing short of Magic. That magificient feeling of total religious madness, which the classics of the genre carry (Watain "Casus Luciferi", Antaeus "De Principii Evangelikum", Ondskapt "Dodens Evangelium", Ofermod "Mysterion Tes Anomias" et cetera), blossoms here to its full potential. I must say, I am a big fan of Arioch's vocal abilities. This man crossed the boudaries of your usual black metal vocalists and transcended into a category of visionaries, that are not bound by any genre or style. The unmistakable passion, that you hear in his voice; the fearsome growls and screams; you hear him LIVE through it, not sing the lyrics. The lyrics come alive at this man's lips. And those lyrics are not even your usual black metal lyrics to start with.

But, while the vocal and lyrical aspects are very important, it's not the only reason to love this album. The music is perhaps best described as a furious hurricane, that sometimes slows down, sometimes becomes a raging beast, sometimes appears to be over, only to once again manifest its malevolent being minutes later. And when it's over you are sure as hell to discover the whole damn town torn to pieces.

The change of drummer, feared by many, only reinforced the band, as the new drummer is just as good, if not better, than the original Necromorbus.

I heard a fair share of criticism concerning "White Stone", with people comparing the song to "nu metal" and Slipknot, but it couldn't be further from the truth. And the truth is, "White Stone" is perhaps the best song on this album, if there is indeed one. No blastbeat? No "cold northern" riffs? Well, if that's what you need from Black Metal, you're better off listening to immortal and the likes, as this is not for you in the first place.

"Anti-Flesh Nimbus" brings a perfect end to the album, with its slow and crushing pace, grandiose choruses, brilliant lyrics and malicious vocal performance. And, as a trademark of the Arioch's touch, the song ends with a borrowed classical orchestral piece, which works as a great outro for "Maranatha".

I could describe this album song by song, as each and every single one of them is a masterpiece on its own accord, but there really is no point to it. What you get with "Maranatha" is a pure hell in the audial form. The highest refinement!


www.myspace.com/thefuneralmist

Negative Plane - Stained Glass Revelations (2011)

Negative Plane - Stained Glass Revelations

Label: The AJNA Offensive / Invictus Prod., 2011

1.     The Fall     02:25    
2.     Lamentations & Ashes     07:02    
3.     Angels of Veiled Bone     08:04    
4.     The Third Hour     01:49    
5.     The One and the Many     08:29    
6.     Charnel Spirit     01:13    
7.     All Souls     09:48    
8.     The Number of the Word     08:20    
9.     Stained Glass Reflections     02:47    
10.     Stained Glass Revelations     11:30


After their amazing 2006 debut, "Et In Saecula Saeculorum", Negative Plane disappeared from the scene for 5 whole years and now re-emerge with "Stained Glass Revelations", their second onslaught of adversarial magickal current.

Did they change their direction? Is the new attack just as raw, dark and hateful as the first one? The answer is both yes and no. The sound changed a lot, becoming more refined and, perhaps, soft. The aggression and chaos, previously prevalent, now take a more secondary role, while the atmosphere and the melodies are still present. "EISS" featured many signature Celtic Frost moments and those are mostly gone by now. BUT. The album's style can't be confused with any other band. The moment it starts you KNOW it's Negative Plane. While you continue the listening, the changes slowly creep in. Fewer fast riffs, more slow and melancholic moments, dark organ interludes...

Definitely, an album, whose quality can't be appreciated by a couple of quick listens, it is much more of a slow grower, than the immediately storming first one. What is undeniable, Negative Plane is a genuine gem among the, mostly, rubbish, that comes from the US nowadays, together with bands like Nightbringer and Bestia Arcana, spearheading the new front.

Featuring a lot of great artwork, the CD's booklet is a masterpiece on its own right. I do think, that some of the old fans might miss the chaos within the band's music, as I do so myself very much, but give it a listen. Open yourself to it. Accept it and it might creep under your skin like a surgical needle.