CoC : Satariel - Phobos and Deimos : Review

Satariel - _Phobos and Deimos_
(Hammerheart, 2002)
by: David Rocher (7.5 out of 10)

After the 1998 release of Satariel's debut effort, _Lady Lust Lilith_, on Singapore-based label Pulverized Records, a prolonged silence from the band let it look as though this Swedish quintet would merely be yet another of these countless one-off more or less "interesting" acts which have washed over the Scandinavian scene in the past few years. However, this shall not be -- 2002 witnesses Satariel's comeback, a very convincing musical evolution cryptically titled _Phobos and Deimos_; whereas _Lady Lust Lilith_ was a decent, rather unsurprising death metal recording showcasing a more extensive use of clean male vocals than your average chunk of metallic rage, _Phobos and Deimos_ is packed to the brim with mutating, intricate, extreme metal anthems which the musical physicist named Devin Townsend himself might look at with certain interest. Indeed, what these Strapping Young Swedes have crafted here reaches far beyond any boundaries set within the metal scene, effortlessly evolving from conventional modern Swedish death metal segues to doom-laden heaviness, right from Townsend-tinged distorted madness to classic heavy metal tones -- courtesy of very remarkable vocal guest appearances by Candlemass' own Messiah Marcolin. A striking feature about _Phobos and Deimos_ is the ease with which it maintains congruence throughout the unexpected, powerful and technical fifty-one minutes of seething metal it delivers; despite their countless influences and stylistic headstarts, Satariel never lose their lead, and the material on _Phobos and Deimos_ constantly remains on a very high level. The downright impressive musical mastery on Satariel's sophomore release being enhanced as it is by sound genius Daniel Bergstrand's crisp, powerful production, death-metallers craving for a touch of novelty in their extreme metal can safely be advised to check this surprising, powerful and very compelling release out, as can all who are allured by the power, precision and originality displayed by Strapping Young Lads. A recommended listen indeed.

(article published 3/7/2002)

ALBUMS
10/1/1998	B Meloon	7	Satariel - Lady Lust Lilith