Entertainment Earth

7/24/2017

Mayhem- De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas Alive (Album Review)

Musicians: Mayhem
Album Title: De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas Alive
Genre/ Subgenre: Black Metal
Label: Self-Released
Release date: Dec. 15, 2016

True Norwegian black metal masters Mayhem have been commemorating their landmark album De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas, which was released back in 1994. Considered by many, including yours truly, as one of the greatest black metal albums ever; it is a quintessential classic not just of the sub-genre but of all of metal. For further proof of this, one only needs to look at Rolling Stone magazine list of the ''100 Greatest Metal Albums of all Time'', where the album came in at #40!

The band has been doing, and still is, a commemorative tour in honor of the album, where they play it at its entirety. They self-released De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas Alive, a live album recorded at Norrköping, Sweden in 2015 during their Black Christmas show. The result is a savage, evil, and truly haunting live recording.

The classic album is, of course, played straight through, with nary a break. Every classic is bought to undead, hellish life by the band. The uncompromising, blast beat drumming and slicing, chainsaw guitars, combine with vocalist Attila Csihar to give the classic songs a slight new feel and twist, thanks to his hellish screaming and shrieking.

Production values are very good, giving the album a strong sound, while still remaining the right amount of muddiness; all this while mixing the instrument and vocals at excellent levels. There is a cold and dissonant feel throughout the recording making this a perfect live capturing one of the finest albums ever made. With blistering renditions of ''Funeral Fog'', ''Cursed in Eternity'', ''Life Eternal, ''From the Dark Past'', and more songs you have heard a million times are both fresh and still classic sounding. Meanwhile, the closing title track sounds truly evil and haunting, thanks to the chilling chanting.

Those looking for a typical live album, IE: fan screaming and cheering (there is a few of this but mostly nothing), band talks to audience, introduces songs, etc, are advised to look somewhere. Those who know how most black metal bands like Mayhem handle their live shows, devoid of such moments, know what they are in for. Perhaps, you think that you don't need a live a version of an album you already own. Well, you are fucking wrong! De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas Alive is an absolute must have for fans of the band and classic black metal, in general. In fact, it is the best live album to be released in many a moon, freezing, or otherwise.

Released last year, it is available on CD, DVD, LP, and digital download. The limited LP gold edition can be bought in the US here: https://thetruemayhem.aisamerch.com/item/46179 . In Europe, you can get it in black, purple, and purple with black haze here: http://dmds.thetruemayhem.com/

  5 out of 5