Dark Funeral
The Secrets Of The Black Arts
Death/No Fashion, 1996

Boasting the services of The Lord of Destruction, Evil, Darkness & Death (Lord Ahriman) and The Lord of The Shadows & Master of The Black Arts (Blackmoon) on guitars, Commander Of The Infernal Demon Legions (Equimanthorn) on drums and The Master of Diabolical Possession & Black Magic (Themgoroth) on Demonic vocals and bass, one should be in for a frightening Black Metal listening experience of the most supreme order with Dark Funeral's debut album, The Secrets Of The Black Arts. However, while these Swedes are more than able to perform at blistering speeds and prove themselves capable of competently composing the standard aspects of the genre, they ultimately fail to hold my attention for more than 2 or 3 songs before inevitable boredom sets in. There is simply nothing on offer here that would have anyone who appreciates originality and innovation in their music returning for repeated listens. Which leaves this album to be enjoyed almost exclusively by die-hard black metal elitists who hail any band donning corpsepaint and a logo adorned with inverted crosses and a pentagram.

Nothing is poorly executed throughout Secrets..., as the band blaze their way down the same path as Marduk, with nearly every song carried by blastbeats and one-dimensional (and eventually annoying) screaming vocals. Riffs are your standard black metal fare, speedy and ice-cold, but overall this comes off as uninspiring and tiresome. Nothing happens in these songs to get the blood boiling, and with a lightning speed foundation to nearly every song, there is hardly a moment when the intensity is enhanced.

Recorded, produced and mixed at Studio Abyss by Peter Tagtgren (Anno Satanas MCMXCV), the sound is loud and in-your-face, almost too slick for this form of attack. I think I maybe could have enjoyed this a bit more had it been given a more raw sound. Dark Funeral have made a name for themselves in the black metal genre, seemingly teamed up with Marduk for Swedish Black Metal Supremacy, but I find it difficult to sit through an entire album of blastbeats and uneventful songwriting. To me, the most appealing thing about this album is the beautifully dark artwork on the cover by Necrolord. However, fans of blast speed black metal in the vein of Marduk and Setherial will surely find Dark Funeral worth their while.

2001


Tracklisting

1. The Dark Age Has Arrived
2. The Secrets Of The Black Arts
3. My Dark Desires
4. The Dawn No More Rises
5. When Angels Forever Die
6. The Fire Eternal
7. Satan's Mayhem
8. Shadows Over Transylvania
9. Bloodfrozen
10. Satanic Blood
11. Dark Are The Paths To Eternity (A Summoning Nocturnal)

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Dark Funeral

Dark Funeral Discography

Dark Funeral (Hellspawn, 1994)
The Secrets Of The Black Arts (No Fashion, 1996)
Vobiscum Satanas (Metal Blade/No Fashion, 1998)
Teach Children To Worship Satan (No Fashion, 2000)
In The Sign... (Hellspawn/No Fashion/Necropolis, 2000)
Diabolis Interium (No Fashion/Necropolis, 2001)
De Profundis Clamavi ad te Domine Live CD (Regain, 2004)
Attera Totus Sanctus (Regain, 2005)