CoC : Satyricon - The Forest Is My Throne / Enslaved

Satyricon - _The Forest Is My Throne_
(Moonfog Productions, 1996)
Enslaved - _Yggdrasill_
(Moonfog Productions, 1996)
by: Henry Akeley (7 / 5 out of 10)

If you've never heard these bands before, this split CD is not really the place to start. With one noteworthy exception, it consists entirely of old demo material which I think both groups have really bettered on subsequent releases. The Satyricon demo - their second, recorded in '93 - begins with the standard creepy intro and rips mercilessly into some blazing, high-speed black metal in the trademark early Bathory style. But as they've gone on to do ever more skillfully on their two full-length CDs, Satyricon enrich that basic framework with weirder, catchier riffing and some very crisp, lightning-paced percussion. Of course, the production is extremely raw, but that tends to fit this sort of material rather nicely, giving it that weird, grim, faraway vibe. Pretty cool stuff, in my opinion, but not as good as their debut, _Dark Medieval Times_, or their excellent follow-up, _The Shadowthrone_. A newly-recorded bonus track is also included here, and it's easily the highlight of this whole CD. "Night of the Triumphator" is Satyricon's tribute to the 80's sound, and it's a good, bloody sacrifice at the altar of Bathory, Sodom, and Celtic Frost. (You know, there have been an awful lot of those lately.)

The '92 Enslaved demo, on the other hand, is not so enjoyable: this very raw and simplistic black metal totally pales in comparison to the band's newer and more inventive material. The two best tracks, "Heimdallr" and "Allfgor Ooinn", have both since been re-recorded, and with much better sounding results. I do like "Enslaved", which features a pretty wicked main riff and some killer screaming vox. But like most of this band's earlier output, the songs here tend to suffer from a surplus of length combined with a dearth of ideas. And, of course, the production is horrible.

(article published 10/5/1996)

CHATS
1/15/2000	D Rocher	Satyricon: ...and Thus Spake the Dark Half
12/9/1999	P Schwarz	Satyricon: In a Moment of Clarity, the Rebels Return
3/14/1999	P Schwarz	Satyricon: An Extravagant Rebel Conquest

ALBUMS
3/29/2015	J Semprich	9	Enslaved - In Times
10/7/2012	J Carbon	7.5	Enslaved - RIITIIR
2/6/2011	A McKay	9.5	Enslaved - Axioma Ethica Odini
1/31/2009	J Ulrey	8	Enslaved - Vertebrae
11/11/2008	J Smit	8.5	Satyricon - The Age of Nero
5/2/2006	T DePalma	5.5	Enslaved - Ruun
3/26/2006	J Montague	2	Satyricon - Now, Diabolical
11/29/2004	P Azevedo	8.5	Enslaved - Isa
10/14/2003	P Azevedo	8.5	Enslaved - Below the Lights
7/12/2003	Q Kalis	8.5	Satyricon - Volcano
1/14/2002	P Azevedo	7.5	Enslaved - Monumension
11/20/2000	C Flaaten	8	Enslaved - Mardraum - Beyond the Within
10/12/1999	P Azevedo	9	Satyricon - Rebel Extravaganza
8/12/1999	A Wasylyk	8	Satyricon - Intermezzo II
11/19/1998	P Schwarz	9	Enslaved - Blodhemn
9/14/1997	S Hoeltzel	4	Satyricon - Megiddo
5/13/1997	S Hoeltzel	9	Enslaved - Eld
8/12/1996	S Hoeltzel	5	Satyricon - Nemesis Divina: The Conquering

GIGS
3/5/2000	M Noll	Satyricon / Behemoth / Hecate Enthroned	Untied Bronze Chains