Genre: Black Metal
Label: Season of Mist
This here is one impressive slab of blasphemy. Black metal and a little bit more.
I’ll be honest, this is my first time listening to Watain, and so far they are living up to the hype I’ve heard about them. People call them the biggest band in black metal, the best band in black metal, the most evil band in black metal, etc. And I’m tending to agree. And it’s no wonder why, really, as this has a huge sound that’s totally arena ready but still grim and kvlt as fuck, and from a technical perspective, these Swedes know their shit when it comes to writing riffs. The best thing about these songs is that they are that: songs. Not collections of riffs with some dude shouting “Hail Satan!” over them. (and if you’ve read quite a few of my reviews, you know that’s an important aspect of music to me.)
Now, most evil band in black metal? Well, the disc is pretty fucking evil sounding, lyrically and musically. But it’s through Watain’s actions that prove that they may well be the most evil band in black metal. If you want a better rundown as to what I mean, read the Decibel magazine with Eric Danielsson on the cover, July 2010, Issue 69. Trust me, if you don’t get this issue, just know that these motherfuckers are real when they say Hail Satan.
In the end, Lawless Darkness is Swedish black metal with a nice, thin rock ‘n’ roll shine over top. And it’s fucking great.
8 out of 10.
Watain on MySpace.
