Satyricon - Have grown up over the years!!!

***1/2

The Sound of Black Metal all grown up! 

Graspop Metal Meeting

Satyricon ***1/2 are now a legendary Nowegian Black Metal band that started two decades ago in 1991. Satyricon are a band that always puts on a great performance, even though the music and stage presence has changed a little from the early days. The theatrical aspects of the band from early days have now almost gone more to a well polished serious unit has evolved in it's place. Most people know Satyricon best for the partnership of the two brothers Satyr and Frost and this is a relationship that works really well in the band.

Blasting opener 'Now, Diabolical' really has a groove that hits you, it's a fast paced stormer of a track and always great to start their performance of with as as Frost hits the beats franticly in time to the music you can understand why Satyricon have had such longevity. 'Black crow on a Tombstone' has a killer repetitive riff to it and as the harmonics and vocals kick in you find yourself swinging your head back and forth. This is a band that have always know how to get a groove going and this song has one of the best ones I have ever heard. The lyrics for this song are really simple so it's easy to get into and enjoy and the band play it to perfection.

​'Our World, It rumbles Tonight' off their last album, which was actually a self titled release has a majestic feel to it and I think sounds like it comes from the roots of traditional Black Metal so really appeals to me. I really like the atmospheric feel to it and the fact the drum pedal beats keep it's time really well. 'Walker upon the Wind' off the same album is a much faster Black Metal track that sounds more like some of the bands early work at gives a different feel to the performance. I like how it almost verges on Thrash in places and it get's a few people moving in the crowd.

My friends really loved the album 'Volcano' and played it at me non stop, one of the stand out tracks on this release was the underrated 'Repined bastard Nation' which steady riffs really stood out to me. I don't think though this is a great live performance track and it didn't come out as well as others in their set in Belgium. 'The Infinity of time and Space' one of the first songs I heard off the last album didn't really do much for me, it see's the band almost going into Doom in it, and I just find it a little slow in places for me and a little too drawn out and is definitely not a good live track.

They bring every up a few paces with the 'Pentagram Burns' a track which I think really saves the bands diminishing crowd and grabs people back in. This is a great evil track that has so many nasty turns to it that you can't just help wanting to play it. I have always loved the riff for 'Fuel for Hatred' and this is a song I always look forward to and is a gem they can call out at anytime to make their set go with a bang. 'Mother North' was a big track for the band which they had even done with at the Opera in Oslo but for me again sounds better on record but it is quite nice to listen to live and makes you want to watch and listen patiently.

They close with one of their most commercial songs 'K.I.N.G', which has elements of the ridiculous to it but at the same time is a killer track that sticks in your mind and makes you want to play it over and over again. The only thing I would say about their set is that it get's a little repetitive and their isn't now much to watch and after the first few songs it's more of the same, I have seen them many times and for me this is one of the bands poorer performances. Maybe Satyricon have set the standard to high in the past and it's hard now to live up to past glories. Don't write Satyricon off because i think the best is still to come!!!

Satyricon - Setlist
-------------------
Now, Diabolical
Black crow on a Tombstone
Our World, It rumbles Tonight
Walker upon the Wind
Repined bastard Nation
The Infinity of Time and Space
The Pentagram Burns
Fuel for Hatred
Mother North
K.I.N.G.

Review and Photo's by Dave Deadsy

Check Out! the Video for 'K.I.N.G' Below...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQQdsKH3Qt8​