surprisingly, no Samael threads seem to exist any more - only news and reviews.

The new album, "Solar Soul" is out and after about a dozen spins, i'd say it's easily their best since "Passage", and I really like the track 'Valkyrie's New Ride.'

Your thoughts?

Heh, dude you could look at the title of this topic...:D

I haven't listened to the new album.

I prefer the industrial/avantgarde era of Samael, it's more interesting than the BM one. My favorite albums are "Eternal" and "Reign of Light".

d'oh! can't believe i spelled the band's name wrong in the thread title. It's fixed now.

You'll probably like "Solar Soul" a lot then. I didn't care for "Eternal" too terribly much, it was ok, but paled in comparison to "Passage." "Reign of Light" was a step back in the right direction, but "Solar Soul" is like a leap forward.

definitely worth checking out.

I don't really care for Samael after Passage... that was indeed an awesome album, and their earlier black metal shit is among the most respectable shit on the genre, but since Eternal I'm not really interested in Samael... and Reign Of Light was a very bad album if you ask me, never heard anything after that.

seeing them in 4 hours
Ive been a fan for a long while, my favorite is probably Ceremony Of Opposites though, that album has such a crushingly heavy sound... Havent heard their latest album yet since I though Ray Of Light sucked balls (extremely derivative industrial metal IMO) but since you're recommending it, Ill give it a listen.

They've been my favourite band for a good while

The new album is brilliant. I have to agree it's their best since Passage. There isn't a weak track in there, and for those who enjoyed Samael's earlier efforts in the Industrial style, but disliked Reign Of Light - this could well be something you'll enjoy again. That said, I have to disagree with jupitreas' opinion of RoL. It's my least favourite Samael album (barring the first two) but I like it very much overall.

Solar Soul has more of a throwback to Passage, Eternal and... even some Ceremony Of Opposites elements (NO, it's not a black metal release in any respect, though). Elements from RoL still remain, but the sound is much fuller and in general more aggressive. My favourite Samael albums are still CoO and Passage (masterpieces, both) and this isn't going to dethrone either of them, but it's very very good.

well back before the big switch in the site layout i had a samael thread going. but that was ages ago and ya i havent been on much since then. but as for Samael i can say that i was a big fan back when Xy was still an actual drummer and before the reign in light album. Blood Ritual and Ceremony were very groundbreaking in terms of that kind music. once they began to program it lost its edge for me

According to Samael official website:

Part of their classic album re-releases, Century Media will put out a new version of "Passage" and "Eternal" on October 1st (US releases will follow later). Both albums come as a 28 pages Mediabook with lyrics, new layout, liner notes and bonus tracks. Here is the complete track list:


"Passage":

01. Rain
02. Shining Kingdom
03. Angel's Decay
04. My Saviour
05. Jupiterian Vibe
06. The Ones Who Came Before
07. Liquid Soul Dimension
08. Moonskin
09. Born Under Saturn
10. Chosen Race
11. A Man In Your Head
12. Exodus
13. Tribes Of Caïn
14. Son Of Earth (re-recording '96)
15. Winter Solstice
16. Ceremony Of Opposites (re-recording '96)
17. From Malkuth To Kether


"Eternal":

01. Year Zero
02. Ailleurs
03. Together
04. Ways
05. The Cross
06. Us
07. Supra Karma
08. I
09. Nautilus & Zeppelin
10. Infra Galaxia
11. Being
12. Radiant Star
13. Ways (alternate mix)
14. Ailleurs (alternate mix)
15. Infra Galaxia (alternate mix)
16. Us (instrumental)
17. The Cross (instrumental)
18. I (instrumental)
19. Ways (drum'n'bass mix)


source (here).

It seems as this thread is sort of dead, but from what I've heard of Samael, they are really good, must check out more of them.

I prefer their Industrial era over their boring black metal era, it's been a time ago I listend to them.
should check Solar soul soon.

"Solar Soul" is an improvement over their last two, imo, but still nowhere near the class of "Passage" or "Ceremony."

Passage was the first and last album i've heard from them. briefly checked out Eternal, but quickly lost my interest for their new stuff. Passage and everything else up to that album is great. Ceremony of opposites was one of the first black metal records i've heard and liked, that's why Samael remains one of my all time fav bands.

Oh, this topic must be on top, because we are about to get their upcoming album in 2 months..
Check out their new song, Illumination, on their Myspace.

My girl is a big fan of them! i cant seem to listen to them on albums. but i quite enjoyed their show on brutal assault i must say. only track that somewhat cool to me is baphomets throne

Does the slipcase reissue of Worship Him have the original cover art on the booklet or does the booklet have the same cover that's on the slipcase?

Who do they sound like...if anybody?

^^^They are rather unique depending on which 'era' you are listening to them in.
They started out as BM in '87-88 and are among the first pioneers of the genre as well as one of the few remaining intact acts of the first wave of BM. However, they are not BM anymore(even though myrrthronth.de classifies them as such). With the album Passage, Samael ventured into musically unexplored territory. I respect their BM roots, but I much prefer Passage and Eternal. Passage was more groundbreaking but Eternal has more passion. Solar Soul was just a horrible album to me and was a devastating blow when it hit my ear drums.
My faith in Samael was rekindled when Above came out and it was indeed a metal album. Although, once again...it's quite unique, even for Samael.

Check them out...they are easily found on youtube or last.fm

Not so many people like their black era apperantly, but I like it a lot. I prefer their first 3 albums plus the Rebellion EP over Eternal an Passage, but I also like the rest of their stuff. They can't go wrong for me Saw them last summer an were amzing!
For me Solar Soul is a bit soft but with Above they're back on track.
As mentionne above they are "rather unique" in every way.
BTW, why is Samael in the alternative forum?

Huh? most people in the (old, buried) thread and this have responded in favor of their older albums. myself included.

Solar Soul was an improvement over Eternal and Reign of Light, Above was their best in the last 12 years or so, but Ceremony of Opposites and Passage are still their best.

Eternal has HUGE personal and sentimental value for me, so I'm very biased on that. But Passage is arguably Samael's finest opus.

I really like Ceremony of Opposites. Passage was good too. But I wasn't too keen on stuff like Reign of Light, though. Above is a good return to form since Passage.

Why is samael in this forum?

Written by [user id=42122] on 18.10.2009 at 06:25

Why is samael in this forum?

because over the past 12 years they have fit more into the industrial metal (thus alt metal) area than black metal...

Ehh, i dont know man. industrial...id say more experimental post-black metal.

I got into this band because Sammael is a character in the Wheel of Time, and I thought that they thus deserved checking out. Passage is pretty good. i've also got Eternal, and that hasn't really grabbed me yet... interesting band

Well ... their last album - Above is more black metal then their previous relesess, and i must say that this sound appeals more to me

I don´t liked Above... a bit boring