Watain Sworn to the Dark
The Ajna Offensive flame42 February 19, 2007
By Jason Jordan
Coming off a four-year silence, Swedens Watain have returned with their powerful third full-length Sworn to the Dark. Unsurprisingly, SttD shares traits with the output of other Ajna Offensive signings Antaeus, Deathspell Omega, and Funeral Mist, but also brings to mind fellow Swedes Dissection. Again, thats understandable because many of these groups share members so that influences cant help but bleed into one another, though arguably, out of all the bands listed above, Watain may be the most variable in their BM approach.
The word on the street, or on the Internet rather, is that Sworn to the Dark is boring, and while it has its lowlights and also demands at least some concentrated listening, its far from bad. As a matter of opinion, the highlights are excellent. The fury of DsO-like Legions of the Black Light is surely a riff-tastic song, while Immortal/Dissection-esque follower Satans Hunger is rhythmically unmatched by anything else the trio bring to the table. What sucks, though, is that even as early as the second track, it becomes increasingly difficult to remain fully attentive, and the one-minute instrumental Withershins only exacerbates the problem. So by the time you reach Storm of the Lights Ban er, Antichrist youre hoping for more than the blasting that occurs, despite its viciousness. The groove-heavy The Light That Burns the Sun comes across well, as does the slightly overdone title track, which resembles present-day Satyricon due to repetition in the lyrical department. Watain are at their peak when they slow it down like on the epic The Serpents Chalice. The inclusion of second instrumental Dead but Dreaming isnt needed, however, since the disc, at 58 minutes, is so long in the first place. Still, Stellarvore closes the album in true climactic fashion.
When theyre at their slowest, Mortuus best them. When theyre at their fastest, Antaeus beat them. Watain are most enjoyable when traversing the middle ground, and Sworn to the Dark features enough of that to receive a thumbs up from me. Aside from its flaws, Sworn is a solid BM record that is neither the best nor worst that The Ajna Offensive holds within its fold.
Official Watain Website
Official The Ajna Offensive Website
The Ajna Offensive flame42 February 19, 2007
By Jason Jordan
Coming off a four-year silence, Swedens Watain have returned with their powerful third full-length Sworn to the Dark. Unsurprisingly, SttD shares traits with the output of other Ajna Offensive signings Antaeus, Deathspell Omega, and Funeral Mist, but also brings to mind fellow Swedes Dissection. Again, thats understandable because many of these groups share members so that influences cant help but bleed into one another, though arguably, out of all the bands listed above, Watain may be the most variable in their BM approach.
The word on the street, or on the Internet rather, is that Sworn to the Dark is boring, and while it has its lowlights and also demands at least some concentrated listening, its far from bad. As a matter of opinion, the highlights are excellent. The fury of DsO-like Legions of the Black Light is surely a riff-tastic song, while Immortal/Dissection-esque follower Satans Hunger is rhythmically unmatched by anything else the trio bring to the table. What sucks, though, is that even as early as the second track, it becomes increasingly difficult to remain fully attentive, and the one-minute instrumental Withershins only exacerbates the problem. So by the time you reach Storm of the Lights Ban er, Antichrist youre hoping for more than the blasting that occurs, despite its viciousness. The groove-heavy The Light That Burns the Sun comes across well, as does the slightly overdone title track, which resembles present-day Satyricon due to repetition in the lyrical department. Watain are at their peak when they slow it down like on the epic The Serpents Chalice. The inclusion of second instrumental Dead but Dreaming isnt needed, however, since the disc, at 58 minutes, is so long in the first place. Still, Stellarvore closes the album in true climactic fashion.
When theyre at their slowest, Mortuus best them. When theyre at their fastest, Antaeus beat them. Watain are most enjoyable when traversing the middle ground, and Sworn to the Dark features enough of that to receive a thumbs up from me. Aside from its flaws, Sworn is a solid BM record that is neither the best nor worst that The Ajna Offensive holds within its fold.
Official Watain Website
Official The Ajna Offensive Website
