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Marduk - Plague Angel Audio CD

A fair review of the Marduk "Plague Angel" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all Marduk reviews here, or go back to the Marduk tabs.

Marduk Band: Marduk
Title: Plague Angel
Rating:
Release Date: 2005-03-08
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Hangman of Prague 2: Throne of Rats 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

Marduk is back, with an almost new lineup
They have produced dozens of great bands leaving the black metal industry to their Norwegian neighbours. Sweden has been the homeland of death metal of all kinds: old school death, thrash death, melodic death, etc. However, one Swedish band refused to jump on the bandwagon and be another Entombed, At the Gates, or even Dark Tranquillity ripoff: the one and only Bathory playing a strict form of old school black metal. Yet, if there is another band from Sweden that made a name for themselves (be it good or bad), that must be Marduk. This band has been around for over a decade, creating much controversy with their first couple of releases, especially their infamous demos. Marduk has always been a pioneer of black metal in the Swedish underground scene and they sure deserve respect for that.

Plague Angel is their last studio album as of now, considering they just released the Deathmarch EP and a live DVD after this one. The album also marks a completely new era for these Swedish veterans. Long-time vocalist Legion and bassit B. War are out. They are replaced by the band's first guitarist Devo Anderson (who also produced the album) from about ten years ago and new singer Mortuus of Funeral Mist. For starters, Mortuus is a totally different singer than Legion, and he will fairly or unfairly be compared to his predecessor, labeled as either a horrible singer or an excellent replacement. That has always been the fate of Marduk, their albums, songs, lyrics, member changes, and history. People either hate their guts or praise them to heavens (!). I'll be the first to say Mortuus' raw, beast-like vocals certainly bring a new air of freshness, as he screams and blurts out the lyrics with the utmost conviction. On songs like the compact "Steel Inferno" and the tremelo-picked old school black piece "Life's Emblem", his vocals are arguably more powerful and effective than Legion's, especially on the last couple of Marduk discs. The production is raw and evil. Gone is the clean, sterile production of Marduk's last set of releases mixed in the Abyss Studios. The drumming is sick and fast; the riffs are violent with occasional clean guitar breakdowns and epic overtones. One of the darkest and most absorbing songs is "Throne of Rats", as the song breathes atmosphere, just like in the early 90's black metal albums. "Perish in Flames" will certainly cause more discussion among fans, for its extended build-up and extraordinary chord progressions. The song is epic-sounding, and simply huge in its scope. The riffs are noticably slower and a bit sludgier than their other work, enhanced with pure and raw shrieking. Another lengthy piece is the last cut "Blutrache" (Blood Revenge) with weird sound effects, atmospherics, and a sudden burst into one of the most uncompromising Marduk songs in a long time.

Though described as "a new era of songwriting", I beg to differ. Plague Angel is no where near as surprising or groundbreaking as the older albums. It is, however, strongly written, produced and delivered, just as many fans had expected.


EXTREME!
Great lyrical content, and the vocals will send a chill down your spine! Fast and non-relenting, not a mid-tempo song in the bunch. If you like it brutal and extreme this is the one for you. This is all out brutality! Great musicianship and an all around awesome black metal album. It's nice to see some black metal groups have not sold out and gone soft!.


Just as fast as PDM
Ok, the new singer. . Mortuus. . . is DEFINETLY not as good as Legion, in my opinion i dont think they will ever get a singer as good as him. But this very good, its really fast, and it slows down on two songs on the cd. The slower ones are good too. The best songs are Lifes Emblem, Throne Of Rats, and Everything Bleeds. Go Buy it bitches.


Good enough for the new vokil-ist,Mortuus
No mote Legion in Marduk!! Mortuus is good but no Legion. well if you are a Marduk listener,not like those below me that you see, you would know that Legion is gone. Thats the main reason for the 4 stars not 5. But thats just my mood right now. Plague Angel is brutal and black to the bone. Nothing better that war and satanizm. Good combination. Panzer Division combined with World Funeral. What ever Marduk will release next, will destroy this world. So, get ready for the DEATHMARCH!!!!!!!!.


OK, But World Funeral Was Rawer
Well crafted, and Legion's vocals are very black metal. Plague Angel is a fairly good album. The only thing that sets it back so much is the songs are too much alike and they are not as catchy as earlier albums. World Funeral had more hooks and more precise clean guitar work. The drumming is good, and that makes up a good part of this album. This album is good, but I don't think it was as raw and agressive as World Funeral, Pazner Division Marduk, F**k Me Jesus, or their earlier stuff.


You can see a complete list of all Marduk discography, or go back to the Marduk tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

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