Different, but in a good way. – 85%
captain_mickeh, June 28th, 2006
Volcano was the first Satyricon album I owned, and I was suitably impressed with it on my first listen. One thing that did stand out on Volcano though was its rock-like style. It wasn’t raw black metal, it wasn’t “true” black metal – it was rock-influenced black metal. It’s this factor alone that puts a lot of people off this album. Now this isn’t a bad thing per se, but it does make for a different sounding Satyricon.
The music could be described as having the characteristics of black metal, though the sound is very rock-like. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It is still black metal, and it’s sound unique, though it has elements of rock in the music.
(…)
The guitars are fine. They have a unique sound and while nothing special, they suit this album. The vocals are done incredibly well – they have a cold feeling to them and it fits this album fantastically. (…)
The tracks are worthy – a few of them are nothing special but the majority of tracks are quite good. Personal favourites include “With Ravenous Hunger”, “Repined Bastard Nation” and my favourite, “Black Lava”. (…)
Track and CD length are also worthy. The last track is probably one of the best outro tracks I have ever heard on a CD. It is also the longest track on the album – 14:33 length (compare to second longest at 6:52) – and the CD alone is worth owning just for this track. Album length is acceptable, at 54:32, for the original 8-track release.
Having just praised Black Lava, it would be a good idea to point out that this track has female vocals. They are done well in my opinion and suit the song, though I know a lot of people don’t like it for that reason. It is a far cry from the harsh vocals throughout the rest of the album.
(…)
On another note: it’s been said this album has a commercial feel to it, and that’s true in some aspects (just compare the booklet with the CD to the one of DMT, for example), but that doesn’t mean you still can’t enjoy the music. If you take the album for what it is – a piece of music – and not a “sell out album”, “the fall of Satyricon” or “a deviation from true black metal”, then you might enjoy the album. Don’t compare it to earlier albums; just take it for what it is: an individual album.
Overall, Volcano is a fantastic album, and one of my favourites. Its vocals are harsh yet suiting, it has a fair play-time, it has a few outstanding tracks and the last track is just mind-blowing.
rafazardly 