Remastered re-release of the second full-length album by Swedish Black Metal band.
One of the decade's best Black Metal albums, no doubt. Watain's second full-length offers an atmosphere that reminds of Dissection meets Gorgoroth, but this is just a reference point. Watain offers their very own approach, bolstered by a professional production and a completely effective display of utter darkness.
Watain are a heavily Dissection influenced outfit. Without further examination, one might even call them Dissection clones; but Watain have surpassed the band that may have been their main inspiration. "Casus Luciferi" features eight long, mainly hell-paced and always break-laden songs with a multitude of layered guitar melodies and harmonic textures, more so than on their debut album, but still keep an impeccable balance between being melodic, raw, Black and heavy for the full length of this album. Although the truer than true crowd might not like to hear this, "Casus Luciferi", not as a whole, just in a couple of places, is not all too far away from some of the heavier and better moments on the latest Dimmu Borgir records as far as some melodies, bridge sections and build-ups go. However, the final result is far more convincing, because this band manages to sound fresh and preserve an underground feeling. They are able to write more interesting riffs, better and at the same time neither cheesy nor happy sounding melodic hooks, and songs that despite being no verse/chorus/verse affairs flow incredibly well and capture the listener's attention from start to finish. No keyboards, female vocals or fad-of-the-day gimmicks like an orchestra, cross dressing or other assorted faggottry. The enjoyment of the excellent musical content of album is enhanced by a natural sounding and nowhere overproduced production job and there's even a clearly audible bass which takes an active role in some of the compositions. For Ildjarn fanatics this might be way too commercial, for those with even the slightest interest in more melodic manifestations of Black Metal this is a Musthave!!
This second re-edition contains bonus track “Watain” (Von cover) and new liner notes.
Season Of Mist, 2003/2008 (SOM 185). Made in France. Pressed in Austria.
Tracklist:
1. Devil's Blood 5:49
2. Black Salvation 6:45
3. Opus Dei (The Morbid Angel) 5:33
4. Puzzles Ov Flesh 5:39
5. I Am The Earth 6:00
6. The Golden Horns Of Darash 5:41
7. From The Pulpits Of Abomination 6:34
8. Casus Luciferi 8:32
9. Watain (Von) 2:48
Total playing time: 53:21