Mayhem - De Mysteriis...

[MasterOLightning]

I bought this today, feeling like I really should own this legendary black metal album. I was only vaguely familiar with them before, having only heard the Emperor cover of Funeral Fog.

So here I was, ready to be blown away with tr00 grimness, kvlt production; expecting to feel as if I'm in the middle of the cold forests of Norway. Yet I listen to these songs, and it's like, what the hell is this? I mean, I can here the bass. What the fuck kind of black metal is that? I was expecting Nattens Madrigal or at least Wrath of the Tyrant production, but it's crystal clear. I believe I have been grossly misinformed. The songs are good, and pretty consistent, but this is nowhere near a masterpiece. In the Nightside Eclipse, which I believe came out in the same year, is vastly better. This album is so void of the atmosphere I was expecting. In addition, I don't know whether to think the vocals are really badass, or to laugh when I hear them.

To top it all off, Hellhammer looks like Prince in the picture on the back.

 

[NAD]

I love the production on De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas, I don't think it would work with so-called grim production like Nattens Madrigal or In the Nightside Eclipse.

Also, I can hear the bass on Nattens.

 

[MasterOLightning]

You should take my post with a few grains of salt. I am aware that bass can be heard on other, more raw releases, but I was shocked at how clear it was at times here.

 

[NAD]

There are two simultaneous basslines on some parts too. Double your pleasure, double your fun.

Oh, and the beginning of The Moor > When but the end of When > The Moor.

 

[Nico]

Listen to it a few more times and forget your original expectations.

 

[Donnie Darko]

Give it more time, it really is a great album. I think the production you described is minimalistic production which you can find in Burzum and Darkthrone

 

[Hell Mike]

It's the best album ever but I think you are a moron who just doesn't understand stuff.

 

[Ben_t]

go buy crappy speakers if all you need to enjoy an album is a bad sound.

 

[skeptik]

That album has among the best production jobs of any Black Metal albums. I don't consider it among the best Black Metal albums, but it has among the best production jobs. So if that's why then you're gay. Because I'm right.

 

[no country for old wainds]

OMG BLACK METAL WITH CLEAR PRODUCTION IS AUTOMATICALLY GAY NOW BRB IM GOING TO SELL MY BELKETRE THONG ON EBAY FOR £400

I don't like it much either tbh.

 

[Crimson Velvet]

What the hell are you buying "De Mysteriis..." for? Go buy "Live in Leipzig"!

Oh, and I love the album, but I have it on tape, not cd.

 

[Cynical]

DMDS is definitely Mayhem's best, and is definitely one of the all time best BM albums, but not *the* best.

It's quality is largely due to the input of Snorre Ruch and Varg; if it weren't for those two, it would be nothing other than mediocre.

 

[crimsonfloyd]

Yeah I argee, it's really overated. Now at the base of things there is very good songwriting, but the vocals and production do give it an aura that doesn't bring out the best qualities of the music. I suggest you go buy Live in Leipzig which is a harsh, raw, violent performence of most of the same songs and definitley brings forth the songs' most essential qualities.

 

[Crimson Velvet]

It's quality is largely due to the input of Snorre Ruch and Varg; if it weren't for those two, it would be nothing other than mediocre.

Ehhr... How did you arrive at that conclusion?

 

[MasterOLightning]

I was being sarcastic with a lot of what I said. I was expecting something very different then what I ended up with. I generally am not a huge fan of super raw production. I'm mainly just disappointed that this isn't living up to the hype right now. The way the songs all end so abruptly bothers me. I'll definitely give this a few more listens; maybe my thoughts will change. I'll probably never like it as much as ITNE, though.

 

[Snowblind]

OMG BLACK METAL WITH CLEAR PRODUCTION IS AUTOMATICALLY GAY NOW BRB IM GOING TO SELL MY BELKETRE THONG ON EBAY FOR £400

It'd be funny if a Belketre thong really did exist.

Anyway, If you're looking for "necro" production from a Mayhem album, check out Live In Leipzig, I guess.

Edit: Disregard the above statement. I posted this before I read your last post.

 

[Astral Poetry]

It's the best album ever but I think you are a moron who just doesn't understand stuff.

You've never backed up your obsession over this mediocre release with anything of worth. Sure, Dead's lyrics were good. THAT'S IT. It doesn't speak to anything more eternal than "No mosh, no fun!". There are infinitely better bands than Mayhem.

 

[Hell Mike]

You've never backed up your obsession over this mediocre release with anything of worth. Sure, Dead's lyrics were good. THAT'S IT. It doesn't speak to anything more eternal than "No mosh, no fun!". There are infinitely better bands than Mayhem.

I shouldn't need too, just give it a few spins and it should be obvious. Everything about it is excellent, the vocals, the lyrics, the songwriting, the basswork, the riffs... EVERYTHING, and it adds up to an undescribable feeling nothing has beat so far. Sure, there are infinitely better bands than Mayhem, but DMDS is the best album ever.

 

[The Grimace]

I really really hate to agree with fotmbm, but anyone who thinks DMDS is 'mediocre' or 'overrated' is... yes I'm gonna make an absolute statement here... FUCKING WRONG. Just like 'Reign In Blood' is not overrated, just like 'Transilvanian Hunger' is in no way overrated, 'DMDS' is a grossly underappreciated work. Almost every single aspect of 'modern' (post-95) Black Metal was essetially invented on that album, including the use of clearer, thicker production to achieve atmosphere rather than simple lo-fi 'wall of sound' atomspherics. Attila's vocals on that album remain peerless to this day, because nobody has ever attempted to imitate them. Aarseth's massive guitar tone probably had more to do with every BM band after '96 using keyboards to fill out the mix than anything else. And though I'm not sure if Hellhammer had his V-drum snare by that point or if it was just heavy triggers, that overpoweringly bright and noisey drum sound was a first for any extreme metal style. Can you actually hear anything but the bell on the ride cymbal on any BM release before 'DMDS'? And Varg's playing speaks for itself. The man was as brilliant as any 10 other musicians in that scene combined.

And all that's not even mentioning the music itself. The title track and 'Freezing Moon' have more raw, hateful energy and chilling atmosphere than most any entire album that was ever to follow. If someone doesn't enjoy or understand a release that was so far ahead of it's time both in terms of the songwriting and the overall sound, even a decade later, that's not hard to understand. Is there any other album in all of BM that is so polarizing? Mayhem were gods. DMDS fucking rules.

Damn, that's the kind of rant I could only make about one of my top 10 albums of all time. Somebody say some shit about 'Blessed Are The Sick', watch me go the fuck off.

 

[Nico]

I listened to it again twice last night. It realy is better than all of you combined, plus custard.