Register Forgot login?

© 2002-2024
Encyclopaedia Metallum

Privacy Policy

Satyricon > The Age of Nero > Reviews > LycanthropeMoon
Satyricon - The Age of Nero

The Age of Napping - 30%

LycanthropeMoon, January 1st, 2021

You know, I remember being horribly disappointed with this album when it came out, despite the fact that it doesn't deviate stylistically all that much from "Now Diabolical", which I will fully admit to enjoying despite its faults. It may not have been the best Satyricon album (that honor belongs to "Nemesis Divina"), but it was catchy and had a truly sinister atmosphere to it and some genuine inspiration. It's probably the best iteration of this band's black 'n roll style, and I'd say it still holds up well today. Could it be because it was one of my earlier experiences with black metal so nostalgia goggles are tainting my view of it? Maybe - all I know is that I enjoy it for what it is. This though? It's just... boring.

One major issue this thing has is that some of these songs just go on for far too long. For example, there are some good ideas strewn about in "The Sign of the Trident", but at seven minutes, it's an absolute slog to get through. It's repetitive and doesn't really create any sort of atmosphere. True, there are some catchy riffs, but you... I dunno, chop about three minutes off of it and tighten its arrangement up, maybe you'd have an enjoyable song. As it stands, the thing is stretched thin and you'll be screaming "JUST END ALREADY!" at your speakers about halfway through. Hell, the next song - "Last Man Standing" - is only about four minutes and it still feels like an eternity.

The thing that helped "Now, Diabolical" be an enjoyable album was an underlying sinister atmosphere that permeated the songs. Yes, things were stripped down and simplified compared to earlier works, but there was still a certain sense of darkness apparent - from the hellishly grooving basslines of "Delirium" to the darkly catchy black 'n roll riffcraft of "The Pentagram Burns". There seemed to be genuine hatred and anger in Satyr's vocals as well. This album lacks any of that - Satyr sounds like he's going through the motions, and the majority of the riffing on here doesn't stick with you. As a result, listening to this album just feels like an exercise in pointlessness - there are simply so many more interesting things you can do with your time than waste it on these meandering, passionless songs. Frost is pretty damn good behind the kit as he usually is, but that doesn't matter when the songwriting's so dull.

My assumption here is that the band saw the success they'd earned via "Now, Diabolical" and rushed to recreate it. I mean, hey, it's not often a Norwegian black metal band charts at number two in their home country. Who could blame them for wanting to recreate that success? Well, the problem here is that their hearts clearly weren't in it. Its predecessor seemed to draw from a well of genuine inspiration, where as with this it seems that well had run dry. In terms of commercial success though, things seem to have worked out - this album is certified gold in Norway, after all.

Too bad it fucking sucks.