Rating: 7.0

Country: Sweden

Release Date: 2004

Record Label: Blood Dawn

Track list:
1. The Hangman of Prague
2. Throne of Rats [MP3]
3. Seven Angels, Seven Trumpets
4. Life’s Emblem
5. Steel Inferno
6. Perish in Flames
7. Holy Blood, Holy Grail
8. Warschau
9. Deathmarch
10. Everything Bleeds
11. Blutrache

Total playing time: 45:01

Band Website: Marduk

Marduk - Plague Angel

Morgan Steinmeyer Håkansson - Guitars
Emil Dragutinovic - Drums
Mortuus ``Arioch`` - Vocals
Magnus ``Devo`` Andersson - Bass

Some things just never change. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west, water is wet, the sky is blue, and Marduk just keep pumping out album after album of fast, blast-ridden black metal. Of course, there are plenty of detractors who'll insist they're not black metal at all, but for intents and purposes the label fits well enough. Once again we find them with a revitalized lineup: Legion is out, replaced by Funeral Mist/Triumphator vocalist Arioch, now going by the name Mortuus. Also out is long-time bassist B.War, replaced by former guitarist Devo Anderson, returning to the band after a 10-year absence. Not that 'Plague Angel' represents a return to the blackened Swedish death metal of old, this is the same violent norsecore they've been plying since 'Opus Nocturne'. There's few surprises to be found, although "Deathmarch" is somewhat different – essentially a literal interpretation of it's title, being an ominous atmospheric track driven by militaristic marching beats.

Elsewhere, it's what you'd expect: constant blasting interspersed with some slower sections - 'Panzer Division' this is not - and sharp, nasty riffs galore. Mortuus blows Legion's weak barking out of the water with a tour-de-force performance of sick, throat-shredding shrieks and growls, while his lyrics are the same sick, twisted mania he's made his trademark. The “Religious” style also appears here, perverting and twisting Christianity's doctrines rather than simply screaming “Fuck Jesus!” is much more interesting in my view. Unfortunately the layout of the booklet makes it difficult to decipher everything, since the text is often squashed and distorted and printed in an unusual font. It's not completely illegible, but it does require a fair bit of concentration to read.

As with every Marduk album, this isn't for everyone. Fans will love it, detractors will hate it, and casual listeners will probably find it far more interesting than their last few efforts. It's neither as violent as 'Panzer Division' or as gloomy as 'La Grande Danse Macabre', instead focusing more on the style they explored on 'Nightwing'. I must repeat how immeasurably better the vocals are this time around - Legion was definitely the weak link of the band's sound since he joined, and his successor makes him sound even more pathetic. Of course, the production here is excellent, much more organic than the sterility of Abyss but retaining absolutely clarity and punch. Marduk is one band who's style always suited a crystal-clear mix, and here they've gotten what's probably their best production job ever. Welcome back.

May 20th, 2005