The first two albums by Sweden’s Dissection are among my all-time favorite metal albums. They proved to be enormously influential, and they have had enormous staying power. It’s about time that we featured them in one of these Sunday look-backs at past releases.
In April of 2011 we published a guest post by “Kazz” in which he identified some other bands that were contenders for the heirs to Dissection’s throne. It’s still a really good read, and I recommend it to you:
https://www.nocleansinging.com/2011/11/04/heirs-to-the-throne-dissection/
Before going to a few song streams, I want to excerpt part of Kazz’s article, where he recounts his own discovery of Dissection:
“The second wave of black metal was in full swing, but I was more tuned into the nascent Gothenburg melodic death metal scene. The NWOBHM-influenced twin lead-guitar harmonies over a death metal framework made these early melodic death releases fresh, rare, and worth import CD prices for anyone who loved both melody and brutality.
“Some of those early In Flames and Dark Tranquillity records had a much more blackened vibe in the early days, particularly in their vocal delivery. But it wasn’t until I got my hands on The Somberlain that I really found anyone who very effectively merged melody with a black metal framework.
“Dissection made their name by infusing their black metal with a layer of melody which ensured that each song was memorable, together with strong musicianship and compelling lyrics and imagery. By keeping most of their NWOBHM-isms in the minor scale, they maintained a sense of darkness and foreboding over the blasting, thrashing framework of technically-proficient black metal.”
And now here’s some music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Xn3BnYaFSk
14 Responses to “THE REARVIEW MIRROR (DISSECTION)”
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Two absolutely fantastic albums…and that cover for “Storm of the Light’s Bane” is so iconic. Its a shame they never did a third album 🙂
Reinkaos in 2006
But less impressive than the first 2!
I believe I said…”ITS A SHAME THEY NEVER DID A THIRD ALBUM!!!”
Those first two records are amazing, and to a lesser extent, I like the third one too.
Two memorable albums without any doubt.
I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of these records. I enjoy Reinkaos as well, but if feels like it is on a different plane than the first two. Thanks for the re-read of that original article. I’ve spent the intervening years continuing to track down various other new bands that mine this same rich seam of molten melodic black metal – here are a few more RIYL suggestions. None are carbon copies (although Black Horizons follows the template very closely) – I’ve found all of them enjoyable in their own ways.
Black Horizons (Germany): They’re named after a Dissection song! A very solid homage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s2IFnp8nFY
Frozen (Spain):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOrw6wizwO0
Stortregn (Sweden): Look at that blue Necrolord album cover to get an idea of what you are in for.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljOr95FZD6E
Frozen Dawn (Spain): I hear quite a few similarities with Necrophobic as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWRz5zT0ZPQ
Paimonia (Serbia):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEQm4lGPzb8
Death Tyrant (Sweden): This project included members of Lord Belial – they released one killer album before calling it a day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IbaomRorAc
Damnation Army: This project is interesting in that Reinkaos appears to be a larger inspiration.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu0Y5eG1hjM
Love these albums. Getting The Somberlain on wax was a fantastic idea – now I just need to find Storm of the Light’s Bane.
Since the original Kazz article does not mention defunct bands or bands that changed style. Gotta to give some credit to three classic albums from the genre.
Sacramentum- “Far Away From The Sun” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQXEoGoiQfs
Dawn “Slaughtersun” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJgaMBFMP-4
Vinterland “Welcome My Last Chapter” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaEfldcoEnw
All great albums, especially Sacramentum. Criminally underrated
Good call. All three of these are fantastic.
This was meant as a reply to the good person above :).
I <3 Dissection 🙂
Last couple of minutes from Dark Mother Divine made me like Reinkaos a lot more than i thought I was going to.
The first two album’s are Fuckin MASTERPIECES!!! Two of my favorite album’s of ALL TIME! I think I’ll watch “The Rebirth Of Dissection” dvd again now.