Best Mayhem cd
A. Boghosian | Los Angeles, CA USA | 10/05/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Not a big fan of them, but I can't argue on De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas."
Like A Cold Razor
D. Ashal | Aztlan, holmes | 01/23/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I've found a lot of the supposed classics of Black Metal to be overrated, from mediocre to downright bad (Transylvanian Hunger remains one of the worst things I've ever heard). This is one of the few I've come across that is as good as its reputation. It generates a dark, hollow, and cold aura that actually feels grim without any silliness and a minimal amount of camp. The atmosphere is undeniable; the vocals are genuinely menacing yet tastefully understated. The musicianship is not all that sophisticated, but is tight and effective. The drumming in particular is excellent and driving. The total sum of everything on here gives a feeling of being in a frozen, dark wasteland, but in a good way. My favorite tracks are "freezing moon" and "pagan fears" but I don't really dislike any track on here. The whole mythology behind the album with its high body count isn't all that relevant; if you want music connected to mass murder on a large scale, Cat Stevens is a much better choice of listening material. If you just want an album that's chilling and provocative, this is a good choice."