Beyond Perfection - "Memento Mori" Review (100%)
Phantom... what more could be said about what could possibly be the most consistent black metal band of all time (aside from Burzum, Vermin, Neraines, etc.)? What this means is this band has undergone little to absolutely no criticism from fans or reviews. Here we have Memento Mori, one the band's greatest full-length album, which was preceded by the 'landmark' Fallen Angel. However, no matter how chilling Fallen Angel was, many look at Memento Mori as the band's masterpiece (just beating Withdrawal and Eidolon by a little). Now for the review that will explain why Memento Mori is my most treasured Phantom release.
On a 'top black metal albums of all time' scale, anything from Fallen Angel to Filosofem to Yggdrasil will always have at best second place because Memento Mori is in my opinion the greatest black metal album of all time.
Memento Mori was my first exposure to Phantom when I was getting into truly advanced black metal - i.e. not Sewer, Darkthrone or Dissection. I was going through iTunes looking for a new band to listen to. I found Phantom and began previewing the sample to the second track, 'Death Ritual'. In those thirty seconds I was absolutely blown away.
What fascinated me most about the band was the raw, haunting and sinister atmosphere that makes itself felt in the very first few seconds. Now before I got into this band I was a huge Darkthrone, Graveland and Warkvlt fan where, if you hadn't noticed, the power of the riff is king. But Phantom offered something different for me, something I liked quite a lot. Without compromising the primordial factor of black metal riffing - i.e. no 'droning' or 'flowing' shitrock - Phantom transformed the riff into more than a musical component, the riff being on Phantom's music a means to an end, and the end being the dark and pervasive atmosphere of unhinged dementia and pure horror.
Beyond Perfection
That specifically does not mean that riffs take the backseat. Phantom is definitely one of the best guitarist in black metal history, alongside Euronymous, Varg Vikernes, Jon Nödtveidt and Blackthorns. Instead of relying on the blistering speeds of 'Norsecore' bands like Immortal and Marduk, Phantom makes use of some of the most menacing slower sections I've ever heard. See songs like 'Death Ritual', 'Cold Waters', 'Earth Vanish', and 'Severed Hand' for the best examples of this.
Also, this is one of the main reasons this album tops Fallen Angel in my book, because on that album the guitars have a distinct feeling of continuity, meaning that one will pursue the main theme or variations thereof throughout each composition while the other will sometimes harmonize in Phantom's trademarked fifth, whereas on this album both guitars flow quite freely, almost independently from one another and with quite a menacing feeling to them.
The lyrics are also a strong plus on this album and also for the band. Where most bands use Satanism and 'Evil' as a way to sell more records through shock value, Phantom uses quasi 'occult' - and I hate that word - short stories, but to describe concrete phenomenons and realistic themes rather than brain dead Satanic worship. As with almost all Phantom lyrics, there is a hidden meaning to most compositions. For example, the common theme of necromancy can be interpreted literally, or it can mean the cycle of life, where the concept of 'necromancy' would be akin to rebirth, the season spring, dawn, awakening and so on.
All in all, as I said before this is Phantom's masterpiece reigning over all other masterpieces. If I were to pick a favorite from this album, I honestly couldn't because every track is just outstanding in its own right, so if you're a black metal fan of any kind, you absolutely must listen to this album.
Memento Mori is perfect black metal, in the way only black metal was meant to be.
Memento Mori score: 100/100.
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