Band:	Marduk
Album:	Panzer Division Marduk
Style:	Black metal
Release date:	June 1999
Guest review by:	Baliuz

01. Panzer Division Marduk
02. Baptism By Fire
03. Christraping Black Metal
04. Scorched Earth
05. Beast Of Prey
06. Blooddawn
07. 502
08. Fistfucking God's Planet

"This album is a masterpiece, it's so brutal," bla bla bla? I beg to differ. It is brutal but a masterpiece it is not.

First of all I'd like to congratulate Marduk on the militant concept: panzers, riffle rounds, battle sound samples etc. It might be cheesy but at least it gives the album an identity it deserves. Fuck off to recent faceless albums! I'm using this Nargaroth paraphrase jokingly, yet another phrase comes to mind: Black Metal ist Krieg! So is this album. The entire concept fits the album pretty well.

The production is fairly clear; the main focus is on guitars and drum blasting, the vocals also have a fair place in the mix, only the bass is somewhat buried. However the listener might be really confused during the chaotic parts, if you're not used to this kind of music, that is. The guitars are decent and always leading the parade, a couple of memorable Marduk trademark riffs (track 3!) and tremolos, some real gems, are scattered around. Mr. Morgan is competent is this department as usual. Moreover B.War can be relied upon as always but once again his bass is not prominent in the sound. The drummer is no child from kindergarten either, he knows how to play, how to play very fast even, but unfortunately isn't inventive at all. Finally the guy who spits venomous sounds, Legion, is an avatar of monotony! Someone should kick him in the nuts, maybe that way he could develop a better vocal range. However his voice is fairly strong and even though some people blame him for being a sloppy live performer you couldn't tell that from the record.

The main problem of this record is the tempo, or rather the lack of variety in it. It seems to vary mostly from fast to very fast. Put non-creative drum patterns on top of unrelenting guitars plus Legion who just doesn't shut up and you've got a headache. The monotony really spoils the party. Black metal is known for repetition but this is not black metal in its pure sense. Repetition here does not evoke trance. I mean it is ok if you want to play fast and brutal but it would be great to include more tempo changes and create an antithesis in that manner. This would boost the effect of the material, but this is not the case here, Watson. The brutality is a bit over the top and thus turns listening into a tedious experience after some time. You simply know what to expect from the following track: "Blasts and hyper fast riffs with Legion trying to lose his voice for satan? Oh crickey, that was unexpected!"

Even though I might seem a bit harsh on this album it is not all that bad. It is possible to enjoy it despite the drawbacks. One of the biggest flaws - the unrelenting harshness and repetition - might have different angles as well: the record definitely suffers from it but a certain strong attitude is felt throughout the album. Musicianship and production are satisfactory, especially for black metal (even though others will go around saying this is not black metal). Even if the lyrics do not shine the album has a concept and a strong stance. And track no. 3 alone is worth a lot. You might love it, you might hate it. Try it for yourself!