MP3: Satyricon - To the mountains

When you hear the term "heavy metal", chances are high that you don't immediately think of large brass instruments. Perhaps after listening to today's mp3 from Satyricon's new album "Now, diabolical", your perception will be forever changed. I know it sounds weird on paper, but when the tubas and trombones enter a couple of minutes into the piece, it makes sense. The dark and bassy bell-tones are a complimentary counterpoint to b>Satyricon's perfect cold recording sound. The guitars are brittle and harsh, but layered so thickly that they come together in a thick wall of ice. Satyricon's music isn't all blazing blast-beats anymore - they've added far more rock'n'roll swagger and later-era Black Flag-style mid-paced riffing - but the impression it leaves is still pretty damn grim. I wasn't too stoked about the band's last album and I'm not all into the single "K.I.N.G", but I find "Now, diabolical" to be quite impressive overall. They are not content to repeat themselves, so they're trying new things and I commend that. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but at least they aren't resting on their laurels.

Satyricon - To the mountains