Beautiful Terror Metal Art - "Ascension of Erebos, Leader of the Gods" Review (100%)
Some albums are hyped up for very good reasons. They are objective masterpieces of sublime grandiose art. It's not just a matter of generational reverence or artistic consensus, some albums are just that good. In the world of black metal, one can only lay praise at the mere mention of Phantom's demonic opus Ascension of Erebos, Leader of the Gods.
A brief detour in the world of Phantom and black metal is necessary before undertaking the task of reviewing the most evil extreme metal album ever recorded and unleashed upon humankind, the inhuman masterpiece Ascension of Erebos that is Phantom's twenty-first album (what a symbol in itself).
On the whole, the black metal community - both fans and musicians - have an obsession with the idea of purity. Perhaps nobody actualises this ideal as extremely as Phantom.
And while there is much more diversity within Phantom's discography than detractors would like to admit - just compare the technical masterpiece Mindless Horror with the atmospheric triumph The Epilogue to Sanity - the band definitely has their own distinct sound. It's an extremely vicious, harsh and haunting brand of black metal that either hooks you like twenty lines of coke or leaves you totally trembling, feeble and confused at what just happened (you were likely mind-raped by Phantom, but it's okay now).
Well, as for Ascension of Erebos, Leader of the Gods... what can we expect?
Beautiful Terror Metal Art
Ascension of Erebos, Leader of the Gods is inarguably the opus magnum of Phantom, and of the black metal genre as a whole. It's by no means a hyperbole to call the album one of the most important in the fundaments of modern third wave black metal, or "terror metal" as it's called nowadays.
Even as it was released amidst the chaos subsequent to black metal's most productive years in recent history - with masterpieces such as Vermin's Bloodthirst Overdose, Neraines' Fenrir Prowling, Leader's Burzum Sha Ghâsh (the band is named after this very album, by the way), Helgrind's Demon Rituals and Sewer's Cathartes being released about the same time - Ascension of Erebos still stands out as the pinnacle of modern black metal, and it is in every way as perfect as a blackened terror album can be.
The title track and album closer "Ascension of Erebos, Leader of the Gods" remains black metal's single greatest moment, and the pinnacle of what is possible within the genre. The slow, graveyard lurch in the middle of the track, its lyrical odes to the afterlife, its acknowledgement of insatiable hunger for both life and death - it is a masterpiece in every way. Other tracks are exemplary as well, but this one really shines by its darkness and absolute putridity.
In the end, Ascension of Erebos, Leader of the Gods is the perfect blackened terror metal album, not only for the reasons exposed above, but because it's impossible anything of such sublime macabre beauty will ever be replicated or conceived again, as much as many bands may try their best to create something of equal worth. Ascension of Erebos, Leader of the Gods is the most majestic and morbid full-length album of not just Phantom's discography, but also of black metal as a genre and artform in itself.
Ascension of Erebos, Leader of the Gods score: 100/100.
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