Mayhem - Daemon

[mickO)))]

Out October 25th first track released today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_WRE3tymuw

[Eoin McLove]

The artwork, album title and song titles are lacklustre.  The song itself opens up blandly but becomes a bit more interesting after around a minute but it's nothing very exciting.  I think Mayhem are damned if they do,  damned if they don't in a way.  This certainly has a feel of DMDS but will only ever live in that album's shadow,  like most albums that go for a similar style. Hopefully there are more exciting songs that get a little closer to the darkness of De Mysteriis... on the album.

[Don Gately]

Here we go ... disparaging comment about album cover - check
opinion formed after one minute listen - check
not as good as previous classic stuff - check
yet wish it sounded more like previous stuff - check

continue ...next poster

[Eoin McLove]

How do you comment on something without referring to any aspect of it?

[Don Gately]

It's just typical of this site and of Metal Ireland too in the past,  it gets tedious after a while. Of course it's not going to be as good as  DeMysteriis. That was a young raw band at their best, but why is there almost a race to put a boot in to any mew music from older bands? The artwork thing always annoys me.  Is it really bad artwork? are any of their album sleeves any better , would you prefer another  picture of a church for instance?.
I'm sorry if I come across as a prick but I enjoyed alot of your reviews in the past but this is just lazy , why bother if you don't give the thing a chance?

[Black Shepherd Carnage]

More than a review, this is just an objective truism:

I think Mayhem are damned if they do,  damned if they don't in a way.  This certainly has a feel of DMDS but will only ever live in that album's shadow,  like most albums that go for a similar style.

Cool the frosted jets there Don :/

[Don Gately]

Ok they're cool now. 

[Eoin McLove]

I've no interest in putting the boot into anyone other than Nixer and Cryptic Stench. I commented solely on what Mayhem presented.  Regarding the artwork, it is dreadful to me, and captures the lack of imagination that seems to have been put into the concept quite well in that regard.  Maybe you don't care about artwork or concepts. Fair enough,  but I do.  Every aspect of DMDS is iconic due as much to the history around the album as to the excellent music itself. Mayhem have apparently mentioned in recent interviews that they were going for a DMDS buzz on this one,  and judging from that song they have, so it seems natural to me to compare the two.  The song could never live up to that album for the reasons mentioned above (damned if they do) but in its own right,  and compared with what is going on currently in the scene (can I keep on referring to Achatius?), it is nothing incredibly exciting.  It's not bad,  it just doesn't stand out particularly.  I had no intention of writing a review as I'm bored of reviews in the most part so I wasn't expecting my short comment to be analysed.  Whatever.  It's underwhelming to me.

[Kurt Cocaine]

Cool... XXxX

[Juggz]

Don, I have yet to like any of Mahem's music and, therefore, have no vested interest in them or any grounds for biased comparison with earlier works. Just wanted to say that, from an impartial perspective, I also thought the artwork was shite. Hope this helps.

[Carnage]

Bring back Maniac, then I'll be interested in something they do.

[lifeeternal]

Not great at all, Attilas vocals are a bit too...normal. The riffs are dull, pity Blasphemer left.

[Lefttodie]

I think it's fantastic!!

[Black Shepherd Carnage]

It's a great track. With the vocal approach Attila's taking in places, it's almost a black metal Virus.

[hellfire]

They lost their driving force when Blasphemer left. I get that they are damned if they do or don't. I still rate a lot of their later stuff very highly.  I would hate for them to keep rehashing DMDS repeatedly as all attempts would fail.