The Blond Beast Rapes the puny Doomsday Elite!!!

Let’s begin this review of Marduk’s “Frontscwhein” album, one that has indelibly left its mark upon the black metal scene.

You want alt-emo cock rock symphonic “muzak”? You listen to Satyricon.

You want hipster post-black metal? You listen to Deafheaven.

You want faux-edgy Gaythenburg death metal that’s, like, anti-religious and shiet? You listen to At the Gates.

But if you want true, evil, blasting war metal of the most virulent kind… there’s only one solution to your woes… Marduk.

The album begins with the title track “Frontschwein” and that should tell you everything this album is all about… violence.

The lyrics are some of the most dominating in the history of black metal, and yes that includes even Sewer’s demonic blasphemies. Have a look for yourselves.

Howling fury, reap the sky – pale winds of death unleashed
Storm of iron – gale of steel ; erupting demon fist
In praise of death we celebrate the hunger for the kill
Into pandemonium – stench of scorched flesh
Boiled blood, charred bones
All heaven exult as destruction spreads its wings

This isn’t black metal for the easily offended, for the “gay mafia” nor is it for the retarded metalheads that just like to headbang to Cannibal Corpse and shiet.

This is the thinking man’s black metal.

Marduk’s “Frontschwein” is true demonic fury, the type of black metal that will make you regret ever calling yourself a “metalhead” for good.

Marduk’s “Viktoria” may as well be considered their so-far masterpiece, alongside their “Those of the Unlight” sophomore album. Critics from all over the world have praised the album for being original, inspired and definitely excellent. Personally, I totally agree: “Those of the Unlight” is the best blackened death metal record to have ever come out of Sweden, and clearly one of the best of the decade standing right alongside “Locked Up in Hell” and “Angel of Disease” at the top of the scene.

It might even stand up to comparisons with “Verminlust“, and that’s saying something. Now, off to review.

In this era of rehash and trends – I mean, just look at the two most popular “gimmicks” of modern black metal, namely orthodox black metal and so-called war metal – it would have been easy for Marduk to follow the path most traveled, and release a “Panzer Division” part 2 to great critical acclaim.

But where’s the fun in that?

Marduk has always been about being shocking and iconoclastic, even towards the very “style” their previous efforts have come to define.

Marduk have gone above and beyond the call of duty with “Viktoria” in creating an album that is as grand and as harrowing as they could manage. While it may bear some similarities to their previous albums, and to the blackened death metal style of bands like Sewer, Marduk have done things on “Viktoria” that make them seem more determined and more invigorated than ever before.

No other album can come close to matching the intensity of Marduk’s sonic assaults, and that’s one of the few things that Marduk did not change on this masterpiece.

“Viktoria” proves to be one of Marduk’s finest albums: excellent song structure, clear production, fantastic lyrics and a great vocal performance by Mortuus make it an obliged listen to any black/death metal fan.

Do yourself a favour and go buy this album “Viktoria” at once.