I have come to a point with my music tastes where I learn to appreciate ones change in direction. Some bands (eg: In Flames), I will never learn to appreciate their change in sound because I simply don't like the style (even if it has made them more popular). Satyricon is one of those bands I didn't quite adapt to for a while when they changed but over time, I have found myself appreciating their rock direction a lot more. Having read that they were going to 'change' again, I thought they might be going for a sound I would not like. With their self titled new album, I am very pleased with the end result.
I always like to compare Satyricon's change to Darkthrone's change. Darkthrone rocked their sound a bit more but their sound would appeal more to your thrashing, torn clothed, frizzy haired metal head. Satyricon also rocked their sound up, but their sound would appeal more to your slick back haired, designer label clothing obsessed trendy wearing 'rocker'. Nothing bad about either style, Darkthrone kept it dirty and gritty, Satyricon made clean, modern and too structured. I still prefer Darkthrone, but I will take nothing away from Satyricon in being able to make a cool catchy blackened rock riff either.
Now, onto the album itself. The first thing I take not on is the overall feel of the album. It doesn't sound as clean as 'Age Of Nero' and 'Now, Diabolical', it isn't too structured either and it doesn't feel modern too. Think of this more as going back to the ancient ruins of where 'Nemesis Divina' was set, except all the winds, coldness, violence and fire is gone. It is now desolate, lifeless and still, but the ghost of 'Nemesis Divina' still lurks around.
You will not find a return of tremolo and blazing chord riffs. Things are very much still in the rock presence, only not structured around verse and chorus, but more focused on each song having a main piece or two and surrounded but almost post like breaks which etch a sombre like edge (eg 'Nocturnal Flare'). The melodies may be simple but they are catchy and memorable. I will even go as far as to say that they have more feel behind them than anything on 'The Age Of Nero' and 'Now, Diabolical'. Even a song like 'Our World, It Rumbles Tonight' is perhaps the darkest song they have done since anything on 'Nemesis...' . The work on this album is not as stripped down this time around. With hints of folk and post floating through this journey with the subtle synth, the album has an interesting flow and the more fast, twists like 'Walker Upon The Wind' get lost at times because of how interesting the other songs are.
Satyr's vocals are probably the harshest they have been since their glory days. Frost's drumming still manages to burst out from time to time and still give their sound a little brazen edge. Even the guest appearance of Sivert Høyem on 'Phoenix' is an interesting side but one that I like given its dark and old anthem like approach. Sure, even I would long for a return to the first three albums, but that wont happen, so this will do just fine.
The reality here is that Satyricon appear to have found their balance now between being influenced by the old to evolve their sound from the new. Remember it took even the likes of Enslaved and Darkthrone an attempt or two before finally finding their place on the different sound. They will not return to the past, time to let that be, but I still feel that this album is a big step in the right direction.
Ikil
