I'm not a big fan of this record, is it because poet of death Fenriz has decided to let others write for the band on this record ? Members of Emperor, Satyricon and the likes getting their mucky fingers on his magic pen, the cover almost looks to be linked to the band's more deathly 'Soulside...' debut, but musically it's still pretty grim early black metal, but here I get no real feelings of smothering like with the early classics. This isn't as isolating, if anything it's reasonably predictable and mundane. There are elements of Mayhem in here, specifically on 'Gather For Attack On The Pearly Gates', favourite cut has to be the brooding 'Majestic Desolate Eye' which, as it speeds becomes a raw dirge, but overall only the twisted and macabre riffery of 'The Serpents Harvest' saves the record from being a bland disappointment. This is certainly not an attack on the band, they do whatever they please and they are certainly one of the finest bands ever in any musical genre, but 'total death' just doesn't inspire, scare or darken.
6/10
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