Band:	Satyricon
Album:	Dark Medieval Times
Style:	Black metal
Release date:	September 1993
A review by:	Troy Killjoy

01. Walk The Path Of Sorrow
02. Dark Medieval Times
03. Skyggedans
04. Min Hyllest Til Vinterland
05. Into The Mighty Forest
06. The Dark Castle In The Deep Forest
07. Taakeslottet

Satyricon are one of the oldest of the Norwegian bands to form during the black metal boom of the '90s, helping to pioneer the sound alongside projects such as Burzum, Darkthrone, and Gorgoroth. Dark Medieval Times is the band's full-length debut, and it represents perfectly what black metal is all about.

That being said, Satyr and Frost weren't writing aimlessly in order to fit into the grim and frostbitten image that has since become more or less a stereotypical mockery. This is forward-thinking and somewhat experimental even for what many consider to be a relic.

The most notable elements responsible for the thick, icy atmosphere are the elegance and darkness that are projected by the incredibly distorted guitars. Of course, the "bad" - as in "not bad" - production paints an even more primitive picture than some of modern day's most lo-fi releases, yet the acoustic interludes make their way to the forefront without so much as a scratch. The transition between the grandpa's guitars and the electricals isn't exactly something to be desired, but on the whole it's not distracting enough to break your black metal trance.

Two key pieces to the puzzle help this album stand out from the rest in its division - vocals... and songwriting. Satyr's venomous shrieks play two roles: adding to the dark atmosphere, and toying along with the already evil-sounding riffs - something his bitter screams do perfectly. And while the acoustic interludes may not be the best transitionally, the album still flows evenly from beginning to end.

Primarily responsible for the elegant vibe is the keyboard. Subtle in its approach, and not so cheesy as to take away from the "serious" approach of the music, the keyboard on this album introduces some lighter expression without stopping to plant flowers. Add in some folkloric flute work to the multidimensional distorted riffs and you're in for quite an unorthodox concoction.

And don't worry about not being pleased with the extremity: Frost's near-supernatural work behind the drum kit is sure to keep your kvlt status in check.