Bal_Sagoth

Bal Sagoth 'A Black Moon Broods Over Lemuria'
Cacophonous, 1995
Tyrant:
Epic, heroic, majestic, blackened death metal. A Black Moon Broods Over Lemuria is an original and interesting clash of genres. At times fast and furious death metal, and at other times slow brooding epic poetry or raging blackmetal like verses. Guitars are heavy but sometimes break into melodic passages of pure happiness ( see the break in ‘Into The Silent Chambers Of The Sapphirean Throne – Sagas From The Antediluvian Scrolls’ ). Songs range from straight forward death metal like ‘The Ravening’ through to epic monuments of bombasticness with slow down breaks, melodic leads, keyboard passages and dark poetry passages ala the title track. Vocalist Byron uses three main styles of vocals: a death metal growl; a blackmetal rasp; and a deep ominous/pompous narrative voice with which he recites passages of the lyrics. The keyboards drifts mainly in the background and aren’t as majestic or sweeping as Cradle Of Filth's or as prevalent as Dimmu Borgir’s, but mainly highlight and accentuate the musics atmosphere or drive short lead ins or breaks. The lyrics focus on tales of epic fantasy rather than vampires or Satanism, but not gay fantasy like in power metal, this is all heroes and mighty celestial battles. The song titles are entertainingly excessive but fit the scale of the lyrics and add flavour and originality to the band. You will either like it or hate it depending on your stand point, but I personally think its great. Containing 9 tracks one of which is a synth based musical and lasting over 50 minutes its certainly value.
Favourite Tracks – A Black Moon Broods Over Lemuria ; Into The Silent Chambers Of The Sapphirean Throne ; Spellcraft and Moonfire ( Beyond The Citadel Of Frosts )
Mark – 8/10
SECOND OPINION
Gloon :
You either love em or loath em, I however find myself stuck in between. This album is a marriage between death metal bottom end, black-metally vocals and atmospheric keyboards. The result is something unique and refreshing, fans of the later Bal Sagoth albums my be surprised at what they find here.
Favourite Tracks – A Black Moon Broods Over Lemuria , Entombed in the Temple of the Serpent Kings, Shadows Neath the Black Pyramid
Mark – 7.5/10

Bal Sagoth 'Starfire Burning Upon The Ice Veiled Throne Of Ultima Thule'
Cacophonous, 1996
Tyrant:
Bal Sagoth have moved into a new direction with their second album with a more story driven narrative style to the lyrics and vocals. The music is more majestic and exponentially more epic with blazing guitars riffs breaking into melodic spurts of pure bombast making for a slightly cheesy yet heroic atmosphere. The keyboards are also now much more integrated into the music and occasionally drive forward the songs. Thankfully the song names are still lengthy, in fact even more so with song titles such as ‘In The Raven-Haunted Forests Of Darkenhold , Where Shadows Reign And The Hues Of Sunlight Never Dance’. Lyrically the songs are all about fantasy battles, hero’s and celestial prophecies making it an ideal soundtrack for dungeons and dragons. Byron's vocal delivery is now predominantly spoken in a deep narrative voice which suits the lyrics and feel of the songs with blackmetal raspsused for the more agressive elements of the music. There is an abundance of excellent riffs on 'Starfire...' and some great songwriting building melodic passages into ripping heavy sections with pompous synth and vocals delivering a sound that could only be Bal Sagoth. Now more than ever you will either love or hate Bal Sagoth, and those expecting a direct follow up to the debut may be slightly dissapointed.
Favourite Tracks – Starfire Burning Upon The Ice Veiled Throne Of Ultima Thule ; The Splendour Of A Thousand Swords Gleaming Beneath The Blazon Of The Hyperborean Empire ; And Lo, When The Imperium Marches Against Gul-Kothoth, Then Dark Sorceries Shall Enshroud The Citadel Of The Obsidian Crown
Mark – 8.5/10
SECOND OPINION
Gloon :
Well my dear comrade all I can say is that this is an unneeded excessive pile of wank. Gone are the death metal riffs and power, gone are the creepy atmospherics and in their place are rampantly gay keyboards and too much spoken vocal passages. The songs lose their identities as the album takes on a more scripted story approach and as a result becomes more of a lecture than a collection of songs. There is potential here but for me this album is just plain boring and a load of toss.
Favourite Tracks – The Splendour Of A Thousand Swords Gleaming Beneath The Blazon Of The Hyperborean Empire ; And Lo , When The Imperium Marches Against Gul-Kothoth , Then Dark Sorceries Shall Enshroud The Citadel Of The Obsidian Crown
Mark – 6.5/10

Bal Sagoth 'Battle Magic'
Cacophonous, 1998
Tyrant:
Don't let the relatively short album title deceive you, Battle Magic is Bal Sagoth's most epic, bloodstirring, and bombastic album to date. Following in the vein of Starfire Burning Upon The Ice-Veiled Throne Of Ultima Thule, Battle Magic presents a less narrative approach with proper chorus' and pre chorus' in a number of tracks as well as more raspy vocals. The outrageous medieval battle synth has again improved ( although a little more light hearted ), and the shredding riffs of the predecessor have been refined with even more melodious overalys to be heard. Byron still slips into his narrative style deep vocals on occasions, but due to better song structuring most of the tracks on Battle Magic sound more like songs than musical stories. The epic high fantasy lyrics won't dissapoint Bal Sagoth fans and the undoubted highlight of the album for me is 'The Dark Liege Of Chaos Is Unleashed At The Ensorcelled Shrine Of A'Zura Kai ( The Splendor Of A Thousand Swords Gleaming Beneath The Blazon Of The Hyperborean Empire Pt 2 )' which is a continuation of one of my favourite tracks from 'Starfire...' and throws into the mix some galloping riffs and an attempt at operatic vocals. Other highlights include 'Blood Slakes The Sand At The Circus Maximus' a bouncy carnival music style track that sees a gladiator vow vengeance, and the three individual musicals on the album that seem less like relief passages and more like decent pieces of music. Overall a must have for Bal Sagoth fans and a sweeping, orchestral, barbarian, fantasy masterwork.
Favourite Tracks - The Dark Liege Of Chaos ... ; A Tale From The Deep Woods ; When Rides The Scion Of The Storms
Mark - 9/10

Bal Sagoth 'The Power Cosmic'
Nuclear Blast, 1999
Tyrant:
The Power Cosmic is Bal Sagoth's first album for new label Nuclear Blast and sees the band moving out of the realms of fantasy and into the outer cosmos. Immediately noticable is drum work which features more double kicks, and a sharper sound across the album thanks to a new full time drummer who really helps to strengthen Bal Sagoth's sound. Essentially the music is the same however with shredding guitars, melodic riffs, and extravagant synth passages although a little heavier and darker this time around. The lyrics and artwork on The Power Cosmic do however focus on more spacey themes being a concept album about man discovering alien artifacts that unleash an incredible universal fiend all executed in the typical Bal Sagoth fashion. Byron really gets into some of the characters he plays, dropping such classic lines as 'This is the end of your world, I shall remake all creation in MY image' and sounding like he means it in a cheesily appealing way. The darker material and subject matter separates this album from the happy rampant atmosphere of Battle Magic providing the album with a distinct sound more akin to 'Starfire...'. Overall a fairly deep and involving album by the British veterans, long live the barbarian kings of metal.
Favourite Tracks - The Empyreal Lexicon ; The Scorgue Of The Forth Celestial Host ; The Voyagers Beneath The Mare Imbrium
Mark - 8/10

Bal Sagoth 'Atlantis Ascendant'
Nuclear Blast, 2001
Tyrant:
Atlantis Ascendant descends from the star realms of 'The Power Cosmic' and delivers another slab of dark fantasy reminiscent of 'Starfire ...' with the bands more recent production values. I am glad to see a return to fantasy based lyrics although the artwork could definately be improved, because for me that is what Bal Sagoth is all about ( even though The Power Cosmic was a highly entertaining concept ). Bal Sagoth have also wisely chosen to finish off the Hyperborean saga with the third and final installment coming to light on the new album. The 5th studio full length virtually encompasses most of the bands carrer, with the saucy riffing and bounciness of 'Battle Magic', the slow narrative passages and epic toss of 'Starfire...', the sound and general feel of 'The Power Cosmic', and a return of the deathly vocals from 'A Black Moon Broods Over Lemuria' all coming together to form and original album that fans will immediately identify with. Still retaining the classic formula of narrative, raspy vocal switch overs, and the regular Bal Sagoth structuring and riffing, Atlantis Ascendant is perhaps Bal Sagoth's eeriest album mainly due to the synth, which whilst remaining magical and extravagant, seethes with an ominous intent . Only slightly dissapointing is the occasionlly lifeless production and a rather generic feel to the material. Overall a satisfying return of these unique metal legends.
Favourite Tracks - The Slendour Of A thousand Swords Gleaming Beneath The Blazon Of The Hyperborean Empire Pt 3 ; The Dreamer In The Catacombs Of Ur ; Draconis Abionensis
Mark - 8/10

Bal Sagoth 'The Chtonic Chronicals'
Nuclear Blast, 2006
Tyrant:
Bal Sagoth's sixth album opens with a three song saga about a long lost evil manuscript ''The Chtonic Chronicals''. The first part 'The Sixth Adulation Of His Chtonic Majesty' is a moody ambient set piece with Therion like female choirs ( which are utilised well on the album ) and some spoken narrative by Byron whilst the final act of the trilogy 'Six Score And Ten Oblations To A Malefic Avatar' features some dramatic synth and an unusual riffing passage which make it an album highlight. The Chtonic Chronicals benefits from a powerful clear production similar to but better than that featured on Starfire Burning Upon The Ice Veiled Throne Of Ultima Thule. Musically TCC reminds me mostly of a blend of The Power Cosmic and Starfire... era Bal Sagoth with a dark high drama feel, heavy guitars and cheesy synth. The fourth track 'The Obsidian Crown Unbound' follows the story of 'And Lo, When The Imperium Marches Against Gul Kothoth, Then Dark Sorceries Shall Enshroud The Citadel Of The Obsidian Crown' from the Starfire... album whilst track 7 'The Hammer Of The Emperor' reminds more of Battle Magic era Bal Sagoth with its lengthy melodic guitar licks and spoken passages. My personal favourite track would have to be 'Arcana Antediluvia' with its hammy spoken intro over the backdrop of heroic synth leading into an addictive riffing passage with catchy vocals. Overall this is a welcome return to form for the masters of pompous, extravagant, extreme metal goodness and their best since Battle Magic.
Favourite Tracks - Arcane Antidiluvia ; Six Score And Ten Oblations To A Malefic Avatar ; The Obsidian Crown Unbound
Mark - 8.5/10

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