The Somberlain Review
| Band | |
|---|---|
| Album |  The Somberlain |
| Type | Album (Studio full-length) |
| Released | May 3, 1993 |
| Genres | Melodic Black Metal |
| Labels | No Fashion Records |
| Length | 45:40 |
| Ranked | #22 for 1993 , #1,084 all-time |
Album rating : 87.3 / 100
Votes : 29 (3 reviews)
Votes : 29 (3 reviews)
February 8, 2022
Yes, this brand of sombre Melodic Black Metal is absolutely to my taste. It also helps that this has huge Melodeath influences, enough so that you could easily give this album the accolade of being at the forefront of both genres. Mixing two genres still in infancy and managing to ace that combination is quite an incredible feat!
That’s what makes The Somberlain unique, but certainly not what makes it good. Every song is packed with excellent riffs that dance the line between evil, sombre, and folky. The drums have an incredible amount of diversity for a Black Metal album (the Melodeath influence is very strong here rhythmically) and you can expect much more than constant blast beats. The rhythm section is always changing, usually quite energetic but slowing down surprisingly often to allow riffs and atmosphere to marinate in a calmer zone.
The vocals sit right between Death growls and Black Metal shrieks, having a nice weight to them but maintaining a raspy enunciation that works very well. Most of the lyrics/themes are standard BM fare, focusing on occult darkness, but they’re well written. I will say, the acoustic interludes really don’t add anything to the album, and would have been more effective if interwoven into the songs. Unfortunately, they hurt the momentum because they aren’t strong enough to stand on their own. Otherwise, a great dark triumph that still stands above a vast majority of the hundreds of attempts at this sound since.
That’s what makes The Somberlain unique, but certainly not what makes it good. Every song is packed with excellent riffs that dance the line between evil, sombre, and folky. The drums have an incredible amount of diversity for a Black Metal album (the Melodeath influence is very strong here rhythmically) and you can expect much more than constant blast beats. The rhythm section is always changing, usually quite energetic but slowing down surprisingly often to allow riffs and atmosphere to marinate in a calmer zone.
The vocals sit right between Death growls and Black Metal shrieks, having a nice weight to them but maintaining a raspy enunciation that works very well. Most of the lyrics/themes are standard BM fare, focusing on occult darkness, but they’re well written. I will say, the acoustic interludes really don’t add anything to the album, and would have been more effective if interwoven into the songs. Unfortunately, they hurt the momentum because they aren’t strong enough to stand on their own. Otherwise, a great dark triumph that still stands above a vast majority of the hundreds of attempts at this sound since.
2 likes
Track listing (Songs)
| title | rating | votes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Black Horizons | 8:10 | 92.2 | 9 |
| 2. | The Somberlain | 7:05 | 98.3 | 11 |
| 3. | Crimson Towers | 0:49 | 77.5 | 4 |
| 4. | A Land Forlorn | 6:38 | 93.6 | 7 |
| 5. | Heaven's Damnation | 4:40 | 88 | 5 |
| 6. | Frozen | 3:44 | 88 | 5 |
| 7. | Into Infinite Obscurity | 1:05 | 80 | 4 |
| 8. | In The Cold Winds Of Nowhere | 4:20 | 90 | 6 |
| 9. | The Grief Prophecy / Shadows Over A Lost Kingdom | 3:29 | 90.7 | 7 |
| 10. | Mistress Of The Bleeding Sorrow | 4:34 | 90.8 | 6 |
| 11. | Feathers Fell | 0:41 | 77.5 | 4 |
Line-up (members)
- Jon Nodtveidt : Vocals & Guitars
- John Zwetsloot : Guitars
- Peter Palmdahl : Bass
- Ole Ohman : Drums
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Gothenburg 85/100Sep 28, 2022 Likes : 6
'멜로딕 블랙 메탈'은 아직까지도 어느 하나로 정의내리기 참 어려운 장르라 생각한다. 그리고 이 장르를 논할 때 감히 빠질 수 없는 밴드 중 하나가 바로 이 Dissection이다. 아이러니하게도 Jon Nödtveidt는 자신의 음악을 블랙 메탈로 칭하지 않았다 하였고, 그 말이 리뷰에서도 여럿 돌아 그가... Read More
Reinkaos Review (2006)
Mefisto 80/100Jan 10, 2010 Likes : 4
<디섹션, 익스트림씬에 최후의 기(氣)를 불어넣고 사라지다>
개인적으로는 이 REINKAOS라는 앨범을 디섹션의 정규앨범중에서 가장 늦게 접했습니다. 누군가 디섹션 앨범 리뷰에 '디섹션은 앨범 발매날짜순으로 접하는게 좋다'라는 글귀를 적어놓은 것을 보고 그랬던것 같습니다. 하여튼... Read More
SilentScream213 90/100Oct 16, 2022 Likes : 2
The legendary Storm of the Light’s Bane is considered perhaps the greatest Meloblack album ever put to record, and for good reason. Every track is chock full of dark and icy riffs, thanks in part to its heavy Melodeath influence. You see that beautiful cover art with the reaper on horseback amongst a nocturnal tundra mountain scape? Yeah, this album just sounds like that. The... Read More
▶ The Somberlain Review (1993)
SilentScream213 85/100Feb 8, 2022 Likes : 2
Yes, this brand of sombre Melodic Black Metal is absolutely to my taste. It also helps that this has huge Melodeath influences, enough so that you could easily give this album the accolade of being at the forefront of both genres. Mixing two genres still in infancy and managing to ace that combination is quite an incredible feat!
That’s what makes The Somberlain unique, bu...
TheBerzerker 90/100Nov 14, 2008 Likes : 2
스웨덴 출신 Dissection의 첫 출발. 이들은 데뷔앨범에서부터 이런 굉장한 포스를 보이며 새롭게 당시의 스칸디나비안 블랙메탈 씬에 등장했는데, 완성도가 굉장한 앨범이다..
처음 들었을때의 충격은 정말 대단했다. 날카로움과 듣는이를 전율시키는 스피드와 테크닉 등 블랙메탈에서 갖... Read More
TheBerzerker 96/100Nov 14, 2008 Likes : 1
리더 Jon Nodtveidt 의 살인사건 이전의 전성기를 달릴때, 그들은 라이브에서 이 앨범의 곡을 빼놓지 않았다. 그만큼 이 앨범의 가치는 높다. 어마어마한 완성도를 보인 1집앨범 이후 많은 블랙메탈 팬들의 기대를 받으며 활동하던 Dissection 은 2집인 본작을 내놓는데, 이 앨범으로 Dissection 식 블... Read More
