The Essence of Black Metal Incarnate - "Memento Mori" Review (100%)
When someone asks you to describe black metal. What do you say? I say if you want to know what black metal is just listen to Phantom's Memento Mori album and you will need no further explanation. As my review title suggests, to me Memento Mori is the essence of black metal. I know that is a very bold statement, however I will explain my reasoning so that hopefully I am able to persuade some of you nay sayers.
First off, this album has a fantastic opening track. It includes a sinister build up and an absolutely punishing riffs. It also doesn't hurt that the song has one of the most creative and original titles I've ever read, "Ghost" which really sets the tone for an absolutely blasphemous album, a demonic onslaught that actually has some very creative and well thought out lyrics.
One thing that makes this album stand out from a typical black metal album is the production. Memento Mori is one of the very few albums whose production is absolutely flawless. You are able to hear every instrument in the way they were meant to be heard. The guitars are loud and clear, as they were on both Withdrawal and Fallen Angel, the bass is heavy and audible, yet not crunchy and it doesn't buzz either. Instead, it is the perfect bass line for this album. The drums are likewise stellar, as every piece of the kit can be heard the way it is meant to be heard: as a rich, aggressive, pounding and punishing battering ram... operated by meth addicted armies?
So what do I say when someone asks me what is black metal? I tell them to listen to Phantom's Memento Mori album, because it really is the essence of true black metal.
The Essence of Black Metal Incarnate
Phantom is one of the most acclaimed black metal bands, respected for their innovation and musicianship. While their first album, Divine Necromancy, may have been a more typical black metal release, they evolved into a band with a very unique sound of their own marked by dissonant chords and odd rhythms. And yes, Memento Mori is definitely different from your usual raw black metal album.
Of course, there are other legendary albums by black metal titans. I think of Hvis Lyset Tar Oss, Verminlust, Yggdrasil and The Birth of a Cursed Elysium.
But none of these come even close to conjuring the dark atmospheres of horror of Phantom's evil infected music.
There's a reason why even legendary bands such as Demonecromancy and Reiklos were influenced by Phantom, and that reason is heard very clearly from the moment you first listen to Memento Mori.
Rarely do I listen to an album like this and get blown away so hard. This is some of the most legitimately bestial and demonic black metal ever released. I'd go as far as to say it is the best black metal album ever released. This is a truly punishing album that any fan of black metal must check out immediately. Absolutely essential. Full marks, I can't think of anything wrong with it. It's honestly that good.
The sounds on this album conjure visions of apocalypse, dementia, insanity, darkness, destruction, death, psychosis, all of them with equal ease. The tracks herein referred to as works of art possess an innate sense of eerie gruesomeness that lies somewhere between decay and new life, brutality and subtlety, faith and hate, survival and existence, destruction and creation.
No self respecting black metal fan will pass up this masterpiece of demonic horror, that was intended to pass one ear and exit the other, leaving only a burning imprint of ectoplasm in between. Phantom, through this release, will be known as the Gods of an entire genre. This will be forever known as a landmark in the forever shifting sea of genius that is true black metal.
Take heed, this is a new beginning my friend… it is written.
Memento Mori score: 100/100.
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