Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 09/20/2005
Nuance is a word that can easily be used in connection with
Pink Floyd; it's a word that is equally applicable if the artist in question is
Charles Mingus,
Sarah McLachlan,
Radiohead,
Ivan Lins,
De La Soul, or
Astor Piazzolla. And
Metallica -- as balls-to-the-wall as they can be -- certainly recognize the value of nuance. But when you're dealing with the
death metal/black metal field, the word nuance usually doesn't apply because in many cases, extreme
metal is about massive sensory assault for the sake of massive sensory assault. Not nuance, not complexity -- just vicious, pummeling, headcrushing savagery (which, despite its limitations, can be exhilarating if you're one of the kids in the mosh pit). But some
death metal and
black metal CDs are definite exceptions to that rule, and
Lord Belial's
The Seal of Belial is such a CD. For all its intensity and heaviness, this is a
black metal/
death metal release (more
black metal than
death metal) that clearly values melody, harmony, musicality, craftsmanship, and -- here's that word again -- nuance. Musically, this Swedish combo offers a lot of rewarding twists and turns;
Lord Belial has obviously learned a thing or two from old-school headbangers like
Queensr˙che,
Ronnie James Dio,
Iron Maiden, and
Judas Priest. But this CD is far from a
power metal revival disc, and the over the top vocals (which generally favor a
black metal rasp over a guttural
death metal growl) clearly put
The Seal of Belial in the extreme
metal category. And while a lot of
power metal has favored unthreatening, fantasy-based dungeons-and-dragons lyrics,
Belial offerings such as
"Mark of the Beast" and
"Abysmal Hate" are blatantly occult-focused.
The Seal of Belial is well worth obtaining if one favors the more melodic and intricate side of
black metal and
death metal.
~Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
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