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| #FOR FANS OF: Atmospheric Black Metal |
It is well known that Norway had one of the mightiest black metal scenes during the magical 90s, when countless great (and not so great) bands emerged. Among these bands, a few became absolute icons of the genre, while others remained overshadowed by them despite their respectable quality. Mactätus was one of those projects, particularly thanks to its first two excellent albums. I personally discovered the band through its second effort, 'Provenance of Cruelty', an outstanding work of classic black metal with a generous use of keyboards that made it sound remarkably majestic.
Nevertheless, I want to focus on the band’s first opus, 'Blot', which - like the aforementioned second album - has seen the light of day once again thanks to a reissue by Aeternitas Tenebrarum Musicae Fundamentum. I always support these reissues because they give listeners another chance to get an album at a reasonable price while bringing exposure to lesser-known projects like this one. 'Blot' is a very solid debut by Mactätus and a perfect showcase of how black metal sounded in the second half of the 90s. The production is somewhat raw and old-school, but never too noisy: both vocals and instruments are clearly audible and well balanced. There is also a fine interplay between guitars and keyboards, each having room to shine without overshadowing the other.
Compared to the second effort, this debut presents a few more purely raw moments - as often happens with first albums. Tracks like "Knust Kristendom" display the band’s fiercest side, full of unfiltered fury and raspy riffs. On the other hand, you’ll find truly solemn pieces such as "Sorgvinter", where the keys really shine through their fantastic melodies. Back then, terms like symphonic or atmospheric weren’t used so often, but Mactätus could easily fit into both categories in tracks like this one. "Et Kald Rike" is probably my favorite piece on the album, with its exquisite riffs and hypnotic, addictive keyboard lines forming an unbeatable combination. "Vandring" also shows how the band successfully combines its rawest and most atmospheric sides in a smooth, dynamic composition.
Such a solid album deserves a worthy closer, and "Hat og Kulde" certainly delivers. Hate Rodvitnesson’s work on keys and vocals is fantastic throughout; his screams, as on the rest of the album, are powerful and perfectly suited to the music. The addition of varied keyboard textures, flute-like melodies, and acoustic guitar lines creates a truly beautiful composition that leaves the listener with the best possible impression.
In conclusion, Mactätus’ debut album 'Blot' is an excellent example of the black metal scene’s strength during the 90s. It delivers a rich dose of symphonic and atmospheric black metal, where fierceness and majesty coexist in perfect - and dark - harmony. (Alain González Artola)
(Embassy Productions/ATMF - 1997/2026)
Score: 85