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Satyricon - Nemesis Divina review



Reviewer:
9.5

650 users:
8.63
Band: Satyricon
Album: Nemesis Divina
Style: Black metal
Release date: April 22, 1996
Guest review by: Sebastian1982


01. The Dawn Of A New Age
02. Forhekset
03. Mother North
04. Du Som Hater Gud
05. Immortality Passion
06. Nemesis Divina
07. Transcendental Requiem Of Slaves

Nemesis Divina (1996): I don't have many words, just one... Masterpiece.

At first, when I had just started to delve into the world of extreme metal, I listened to Nemesis Divina, but there was one problem, I didn't like it in any way... I was so wrong, too much, too much!

A while ago, I listened to it again to give it a chance. I felt the magic of the album from start to finish, with lyrics that talk about the arrival of Christianity in Norway, destroying all beliefs, and with the arrival of death to unknown lands, before ending with the eponymous song from the album.

A protest and hatred for Christianity was clearly reflected in the album's themes ("Du Som Hater Gud"). How I love Satyricon's instrumentals up to this point. There is great talent in the band, but even more so on this record because they invited Nocturno Culto, an iconic figure of Black Metal: what more could you ask for?

It's a Satyricon masterpiece. "Mother North": this song in particular is the best known and most iconic of the band. I have to say that I feel a sensation of great nostalgia, with a gesture of wanting to cry; the song was so impactful on me that it does not leave my mind.

1996 was a great year, consolidated with the 3 great works of that year: Burzum with Filosofem, Dimmu Borgir with Stormblåst, and Satyricon with Nemesis Divina. I know very well that there are more incredible works, with some serious examples from Aura Noir, Marduk, Dark Funeral, Setherial, Borknagar, Falkenbach, Gorgoroth... You understand my point.

There are people who will say that Satyricon's masterpiece is between Dark Medieval Times or The Shadowthrone (I mention them again, I can't help it...). For me, I consider Nemesis Divina as their masterwork; listen to it from my point of view to see, if I am right or wrong, but in the end this is my humble opinion of this wonderful album.

This is an opinion of mine from years ago (specifically 2 years), but I still consider it a masterpiece for me; this album was the second one I bought with the sweat of my brow, and it was worth it. Whoever has it in its physical format will understand; mine is only the CD edition, but at least it is something. In short, great album and masterpiece.


Rating breakdown
Performance: 10
Songwriting: 9
Originality: 8
Production: 10

Written by Sebastian1982 | 09.09.2024




Guest review disclaimer:
This is a guest review, which means it does not necessarily represent the point of view of the MS Staff.

Staff review by
Sephiroth
Rating:
9.0
The peak of the 'sraditional? Black metal career of one of the most important and influential bands in the scene. In 1996 Satyr and Frost (helped for the guitars by Fenriz) released a concentrate of BM ideals, music and feelings.

?This is armaggeddon? Satyr scream at the beginning of the album. And his musical armaggedon is made by a tight, complex and melodic riffing, trademark of the band. Not ?pure? BM, not only full throttle madness, continuos blast beats and a dirt production but an intricated songwrting that privileges the time changing rather than the monotonous repetition of only one (Burzum-like) oppressive riff. In some parts, sudden changes of time let us hear a ?folk? melody, or a piano, or a xylophone.

Read more ››
published 30.09.2003 | Comments (14)


Comments

Comments: 4   Visited by: 29 users
10.09.2024 - 18:04
Rating: 9
AndyMetalFreak
A Nice Guy
Contributor
I agree, this is the band's masterpiece. Dark Medieval Times and The Shadowthrone are fantastic albums but I'd say this is the band's pinnacle.
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10.09.2024 - 18:38
Rating: 10
Reviews that are very late, but whoever sees it will remember it. Besides, this album is very significant, having bought it at least on CD but experiencing anxiety about not having the other works.
Now maybe I will continue giving reviews to the band's next albums.
but anyway it's good to know there are some who read reviews ha. Greetings.
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10.09.2024 - 18:45
Redel
Moderator
Cannot say anything about the specific one you picked here, but I will always appreciate reviews that are "very late", so keep 'em coming.
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10.09.2024 - 20:01
A Real Mönkey
Norwegian Black metal don’t get much better than this.
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