*point foot towards mouth* *insert foot* That was the first thing I did after seeing this. Cover art by Tor Soreide (The Sins…, Tristania, you get the picture). It’s strange to think it’s been over 7 years since I bought A Blaze In The Northern Sky, it took me over a year to really even listen to it much. There’s a good reason Norway was never too big on the metal map until that whole scene exploded - only today when practically every Norwegian band can ride the aftermath of what those original great bands started would something like Mactätus be tolerated. Most of this review was written before listening and still remains accurate because gothic metal and other various stupid metal counterparts do well to make sure you can judge their book by its cover. (Actually, this is a bit more harsh than I should be but it’s more an attack on the entire genre itself, especially The Sins… as that band needs to die now). The album title is on par with other genius creative outbursts such as Molesting The Decapitated, Perpetual Desolation, United Aryan Evil, etc., and assuredly one would not be in the wrong should they decide to jump to conclusions ("It’s a game… where you jump… to conclusions.") about the equally clever lyrics. Of course bitching about this is giving it more credit than its worth, what do you think I am? A snobbish child who shoots his mouth off and doesn’t care about anything? Mactätus has progressed to a not-so-watered-down version of Dimmu Borgir, still pretty straightforward metal with keys and some slower thrashy riffing in the vein of the first album. Not horrible, but not stimulating either. Lyrics are responsible for the lowered rating, along with the "misogynist brutal death metal" conundrum, what’s probably happening is all the sexual repression inherent in heavy metal males is coming to surface within the music itself, whereas before it was disguised under satanism and being pissed off at society and all that other stuff metal guys seem to care about but drop and forget when some girl tosses a smile in their general direction. I’d try to empathize if the music was worth it (since I too am sexually inactive - it’s no surprise to me either), but I’m assuming that isn’t the principal interest for most who listen to this so FUCK YOU. Metal takes a back seat the moment you get a girlfriend (and you know who you are) or the new Mactätus album (likewise).

Written By: Abbas