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Desaster is one of the elite bands of the German Black Metal scene, though one that does not seem to get nearly enough recognition. Formed in the late 80s, this band carried on the old school tradition while mixing in influences from the Second Wave and their own epic songwriting to create a rather unique sound. The band suffered a few minor setbacks, regarding the line-up, but persevered. They finally released their first full-length album, A Touch of Medieval Darkness, in April 1996, on Merciless Records.
It begins with "Skyline in Flames", a lengthy intro that sets the mood, aiding the listener in drifting off to another world. This is done with synth, utilizing no traditional instruments, but it somehow suits the vibe of the album and serves as a good lead-in for the first song.
"In A Winter Battle" is one of the best songs on here, and is a demonstration of utter brilliance. Despite the fact that the harsh vocals and tremolo riffs seem to have something in common with the bands of that age, the songwriting actually betrays more of an 80s influence in rhythm and melody. The composition is varied and epic, showing true skill in arrangement and the riffs flow from one to the next, seamlessly. The atmosphere is rather sombre, though the lyrics tell the tale of Viking raids on holy places, resulting in death and destruction. The guitar tone is thin, which fits the music very well, while never reaching an abrasive level of rawness. The production is actually kind of clear, without being overdone at all. Even the bass shines through at times, and it plays an important role during those moments, helping add a sense of darkness to the overall sound. Though the song is only five and a half minutes long, the feeling is so epic that you get the sense of having undertaken some great journey.
The title track begins with an intro that possesses sort of a majestic feeling, building up to a great old school galloping riff. The atmosphere is dark and sorrowful, though Okkulto's vocals still maintain a sense of barbarism. While the previous song included some blast beats, this one remains mid-paced. Things slow down even more, beyond the halfway point, before returning to the main theme. Infernal's guitar riffs are very memorable and hearken back to Bathory, at certain points.
"Fields of Triumph" picks right up where the previous song left off, really giving this album a sense of consistency. Instead of a collection of random songs, this really comes off like a coherent effort, with the arrangement of songs working perfectly to create the desired effect. This song starts out with a dismal guitar riff that is reminiscent of Mayhem or Burzum, before transitioning to another galloping riff. Some thrash riffs are interspersed, reminding one of early Sodom. Near the middle, everything clams down and a cold tremolo riff is all that remains, soon joined by blasting drums and hellish screams. This is yet another display of a perfect blending of First and Second Wave influences, sounding absolutely natural.
The next song is short and bears more of a blackened Speed Metal approach. "Devil's Sword" is straightforward and less dynamic than the other songs on here, which adds to the structure of the album in that it offers a little bit of a break from the more epic arrangements. It includes some half-paced thrash riff that is sort of useless and displeasing, but this is not a massive detriment.
"Into A Magical Night" sounds familiar during the opening moments, before the thrash riffs give way to a more intense tremolo melody. Again, this song is more direct and less introspective. However, it leans that way in the closing moments. A solid track, but overshadowed by some of the others.
Eerie winds and mythical tones introduce "Crypts of Dracul". The mood soon darkens, as a woeful bass line drags you into the murky shadows and into the realm of foggy cemeteries and bloodthirsty ghouls. The intro is somewhat lengthy, but definitely suits the music and helps build the anticipation. A melancholic tremolo riff soon emerges, maintaining Odin's melody, along with the morbid screams rising in the lands beneath the frozen moon. There is a sense of urgency in Okkulto's voice that is not present elsewhere on the album. Late in the song, there is a section that is very reminiscent of early Slayer, with the screeching guitar solos, accompanied by funeral bells. The drumming includes some blast beats, though is mostly dominated by an older style of playing, complimenting the riffs. This epic track is very memorable and the main theme is certain to haunt you for some time to come. The pace picks up in the closing moments, ending in a more intense manner.
"Deep in the icecold mountains
Where the air freezes the soul
Where all human life ends
The palace of Dracul is built"
"Visions in the Autumn Shades" is a slower song with an epic, yet ethereal, atmosphere that is different from anything else on the album. The bass lines offer a glimmer of hope and optimism, yet this is slowly strangled by the morose melodies and venomous curses spewed forth by the vocalist. While not an exceptionally strong track on its own, it fits well into the tapestry of the album.
The final proper song is "Porter of Hellgate", which starts with a doom-inspired riff, before shifting toward a primitive Black / Thrash sound. The rhythm possesses an epic quality, much like most of the songs here, and the vibe is more energetic and yet dark at the same time. Slower sections help pull you down toward the fires below, intensifying the evil feeling.
"Dome of the Brave" is an outro, touching upon the intro theme from the title track, and bearing sort of a heroic vibe before the instruments fade out and an ominous sounds foreshadow a grim fate. It evokes the same feeling as when you are awakening from a dream that, somehow, feels more real than your actual life, and you can sense that you are about to be torn from that other world, and you can do nothing about it.
A Touch of Medieval Darkness is pure genius. It is the perfect combination of Speed, Thrash and Black Metal riffs, with drumming that suits each different style and harsh vocals that help tie it all together. There are brief moments when one gets the impression that this is how certain Moonblood songs would have sounded, with better production. The epic feeling that is conveyed by this album is difficult to describe, as this really is one of those albums that you must experience for yourself. Why this record is not more well-known and revered is beyond me, as it is a true classic. Seek this out and make haste in doing so.
It begins with "Skyline in Flames", a lengthy intro that sets the mood, aiding the listener in drifting off to another world. This is done with synth, utilizing no traditional instruments, but it somehow suits the vibe of the album and serves as a good lead-in for the first song.
"In A Winter Battle" is one of the best songs on here, and is a demonstration of utter brilliance. Despite the fact that the harsh vocals and tremolo riffs seem to have something in common with the bands of that age, the songwriting actually betrays more of an 80s influence in rhythm and melody. The composition is varied and epic, showing true skill in arrangement and the riffs flow from one to the next, seamlessly. The atmosphere is rather sombre, though the lyrics tell the tale of Viking raids on holy places, resulting in death and destruction. The guitar tone is thin, which fits the music very well, while never reaching an abrasive level of rawness. The production is actually kind of clear, without being overdone at all. Even the bass shines through at times, and it plays an important role during those moments, helping add a sense of darkness to the overall sound. Though the song is only five and a half minutes long, the feeling is so epic that you get the sense of having undertaken some great journey.
The title track begins with an intro that possesses sort of a majestic feeling, building up to a great old school galloping riff. The atmosphere is dark and sorrowful, though Okkulto's vocals still maintain a sense of barbarism. While the previous song included some blast beats, this one remains mid-paced. Things slow down even more, beyond the halfway point, before returning to the main theme. Infernal's guitar riffs are very memorable and hearken back to Bathory, at certain points.
"Fields of Triumph" picks right up where the previous song left off, really giving this album a sense of consistency. Instead of a collection of random songs, this really comes off like a coherent effort, with the arrangement of songs working perfectly to create the desired effect. This song starts out with a dismal guitar riff that is reminiscent of Mayhem or Burzum, before transitioning to another galloping riff. Some thrash riffs are interspersed, reminding one of early Sodom. Near the middle, everything clams down and a cold tremolo riff is all that remains, soon joined by blasting drums and hellish screams. This is yet another display of a perfect blending of First and Second Wave influences, sounding absolutely natural.
The next song is short and bears more of a blackened Speed Metal approach. "Devil's Sword" is straightforward and less dynamic than the other songs on here, which adds to the structure of the album in that it offers a little bit of a break from the more epic arrangements. It includes some half-paced thrash riff that is sort of useless and displeasing, but this is not a massive detriment.
"Into A Magical Night" sounds familiar during the opening moments, before the thrash riffs give way to a more intense tremolo melody. Again, this song is more direct and less introspective. However, it leans that way in the closing moments. A solid track, but overshadowed by some of the others.
Eerie winds and mythical tones introduce "Crypts of Dracul". The mood soon darkens, as a woeful bass line drags you into the murky shadows and into the realm of foggy cemeteries and bloodthirsty ghouls. The intro is somewhat lengthy, but definitely suits the music and helps build the anticipation. A melancholic tremolo riff soon emerges, maintaining Odin's melody, along with the morbid screams rising in the lands beneath the frozen moon. There is a sense of urgency in Okkulto's voice that is not present elsewhere on the album. Late in the song, there is a section that is very reminiscent of early Slayer, with the screeching guitar solos, accompanied by funeral bells. The drumming includes some blast beats, though is mostly dominated by an older style of playing, complimenting the riffs. This epic track is very memorable and the main theme is certain to haunt you for some time to come. The pace picks up in the closing moments, ending in a more intense manner.
"Deep in the icecold mountains
Where the air freezes the soul
Where all human life ends
The palace of Dracul is built"
"Visions in the Autumn Shades" is a slower song with an epic, yet ethereal, atmosphere that is different from anything else on the album. The bass lines offer a glimmer of hope and optimism, yet this is slowly strangled by the morose melodies and venomous curses spewed forth by the vocalist. While not an exceptionally strong track on its own, it fits well into the tapestry of the album.
The final proper song is "Porter of Hellgate", which starts with a doom-inspired riff, before shifting toward a primitive Black / Thrash sound. The rhythm possesses an epic quality, much like most of the songs here, and the vibe is more energetic and yet dark at the same time. Slower sections help pull you down toward the fires below, intensifying the evil feeling.
"Dome of the Brave" is an outro, touching upon the intro theme from the title track, and bearing sort of a heroic vibe before the instruments fade out and an ominous sounds foreshadow a grim fate. It evokes the same feeling as when you are awakening from a dream that, somehow, feels more real than your actual life, and you can sense that you are about to be torn from that other world, and you can do nothing about it.
A Touch of Medieval Darkness is pure genius. It is the perfect combination of Speed, Thrash and Black Metal riffs, with drumming that suits each different style and harsh vocals that help tie it all together. There are brief moments when one gets the impression that this is how certain Moonblood songs would have sounded, with better production. The epic feeling that is conveyed by this album is difficult to describe, as this really is one of those albums that you must experience for yourself. Why this record is not more well-known and revered is beyond me, as it is a true classic. Seek this out and make haste in doing so.
