“Nemesis Divina” is the third album by Satyricon, released in 1996 through Moonfog Productions. Almost thirty years later, it is still regarded as the band’s crowning moment and one of the most important albums in the history of black metal.
Country: Norway
Genre: Black Metal
For fans of: Darkthrone, Emperor, Mayhem
The listening
The album opens with “The Dawn of a New Age”, a black metal track that is classic by now: a calm keyboard, then sudden aggression with tremolo picking, in a dark melodic setting that strongly recalls Darkthrone — deservedly so, since Fenriz contributes lyrics to “Du Som hater Gud”.
“Forhekset” shows the record’s variety early on, starting aggressively and ending in melodic folk shades. “Mother North” needs no introduction: the band’s biggest anthem and one of the finest compositions of the genre, with Frost’s drumming at its best and a piano that builds an imposing atmosphere.
“Immortality Passion” is perhaps the most atmospheric track on the record, with symphonic passages and frantic drums that sink you into a grim medieval era. The title track “Nemesis Divina” is full of hard riffs and evil harmonies, while the closing comes with “Transcedental Requiem of Slaves”, an instrumental with hypnotic chords that ends the journey in the best possible way.
Nocturno Culto and Satyr deliver excellent guitars that build a frozen atmosphere one on top of the other, with the keyboards playing a leading role and the double bass coming out wherever it is needed. The production brings out every instrument, and the album stands as a bridge between the traditional and the more progressive school of black metal.
Tracklist
1. The Dawn of a New Age
2. Forhekset
3. Mother North
4. Du Som hater Gud
5. Immortality Passion
6. Nemesis Divina
7. Transcendental Requiem of Slaves
See also
Satyricon return to Athens for a night of pure black metal · SIGH – Goh-ka
