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

Half Good, Half Bad, Half Black Metal. - 65%

beardovdoom, December 12th, 2013

Satyricon are a frustrating band. Anyone familiar with their early work knows that they were genuine pioneers of a new approach to black metal and it was bloody good stuff. Then relative mainstream exposure came their way and things started to change. The sound was stripped down to a less complex, rock n roll vibe while still maintaining some level of black metal. The two albums before this share equal amounts of scorn and acclaim, while this album continues down that path.

Satyricon still play black metal but it does seem to be aimed at a larger audience. Nothing wrong with this as long as the songs stand up, but this is often where the band falls short. This album isn't quite as stripped down and mainstream-orientated as Now, Diabolical, although I quite like that album in small doses. 'The Age of Nero' just sounds confused at times, almost like the band were trying to add a little more black metal back into their sound while still striving for acceptance.

Tremolo riffing is definitely more prominent here than on the last album, conjuring up comparisons in my mind to post-2000 Darkthrone. A bizarre blend of black metal and rock but stripped of all elements of speed and atmosphere. Frost actually gets the bass drums going at a rapid pace at times, particularly the opening of 'The Sign of the Trident' but then it drops back down into a plodding groove of sorts, only to pick up the drum speed again underneath a catchy tremolo riff. It works on this track, but I can understand older fans of the band not liking this style, same with Darkthrone. i think a lot of offense comes from a blatant attempt at writing singles, 'Commando', 'Black Crow on a Tombstone' and 'My Skin is Cold' all aiming for catchy choruses over a simplistic black metal structure. 'Die By My Hand' is probably the most blackened track here, but goes on too long as do a couple of other tracks. If you're going to write simplified, unvaried songs, don't drag them out for 7 minutes.

Musically, as I said this is simple. Frost apparently saves up most of his epic drum work for 1349 and session work. Satyr crafts better riffs here than on Now, Diabolical and occasionally you even hear the bass! His vocals have no variation but they never did. He could be worse, at least this isn't drowned in effects like Dimmu Borgir, but it's just your standard black metal croak and lyrics that just completely pass me by with their irrelevance.

This is just one of those albums where good ideas exist, but all too often get smothered in the confusion of mixing different genres or by being dragged out too long into slow, boring tracks. 'Last Man Standing' is a late highlight to the album, with a nice bendy riff and the fact that it doesn't go on for too long. The last track just bores the tits off me to be honest though.

I've got a bonus disc with this album, which appears to be the 'My Skin is Cold' EP with a couple of extra tracks. A nice addition if you don't own that rare EP, but I won't review that here.

Overall, a confusing and confused album. Fans of early 90's Satyricon who don't like Volcano or Now, Diabolical won't find a return to form here, but at least this album is better than those two. Worth a listen if you like your black metal a little more radio-friendly.

Recommended tracks: Black Crow on a Tombstone, The SIgn of the Trident, Last Man Standing