Satyricon reinvents itself.
Created in 1990 as Eczema in Norway, the band formed by Satyr (vocals/guitar/bass/keyboards, ex-Storm, ex-Wongraven) and Frost (drums, 1349, ex-Gorgoroth, ex-Keep of Kalessin, ex-Zyklon-B) has been wielding Black Metal for nine albums. In 2022, they announced their collaboration with the Munch museum in Oslo, which inspired them to write a track of almost an hour, which can be found on Satyricon & Munch, their tenth album.
The band is accompanied live by Steinar « Azarak » Gundersen (guitar, Sarke, ICS Vortex), Neddo (bass, Cadaver, Order), Anders Hunstad (keyboards, Sarke) and Ben Ash (guitar, Strigoi, ex-Carcass).
Forget literally everything you know, think you know, and expect from Satyricon. Whether the band had accustomed us to a catchy Black Metal with energetic riffs, this album will make us change of universe. First note, it is an instrumental track. Exit Satyr’s motivating vocals, who offer us now an ambient oppression made of heavy keyboards, disturbing sounds and orchestrations that remind us of medieval Black Metal. Guitars will resurface in the background, letting Old School influences pierce this terrifying veil which calms down and abandons saturation. We will notice the appearance of some strikes in this unhealthy mixing which slowly progresses before letting Black Metal come back in the background, behind majestic and impressive elements. Atmospheres follow one another, while remaining in anguishing, macabre and desolated tones, sometimes allowing quietness to express itself between two heavy waves, then the epic final escorts us to the exit.
The first time I listened to it, I was confused by Satyricon & Munch. I didn’t know what to say about it, how to express myself or even just how to approach it. But in the end, I realized that Satyricon simply wanted to think outside the box and bring a complementary piece to their exhibition, to reveal the atmosphere they chose.
70/100