Review by Nekrist
Dissection – Storm of the Light’s Bane
Record Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Year: 1995
Rating: 10/10
Dissection is a band that needs no introduction. Their influence on the history of Extreme Metal is undeniable, and they have inspired thousands of bands worldwide with their melodic, melancholic, and dark sound, which elegantly and beautifully conveys a range of emotions that few fully understand.
The first time I heard Dissection was with their legendary song “The Somberlain” from the album of the same name. I thought it was an excellent song, but I didn’t give it the importance it deserved at the time. Their third and final full-length album, “ReinKaos,” was a constant companion during my high school years, played on repeat while I studied or exercised in my room. However, until then, I was unaware of the work I’m about to review, which I still consider one of the greatest magnum opuses of Swedish metal: Storm of the Light’s Bane.
When I saw the cover of this majestic work of Melodic Black Metal, I was mesmerized. It conveyed coldness, desolation, and epic grandeur all at once. Those bluish and purple tones, with a Grim Reaper astride a black horse, wielding his scythe, and an hourglass counting grain by grain every second of our existence, are simply sublime. But when I pressed “play,” and the intro began, I was blown away.
Dissection
“At the Fathomless Depths” is a sinisterly perfect introduction to a series of songs, or rather, anthems to all things nocturnal, wintry, majestic, and epic. Once the intro leaves us eagerly anticipating what’s to come, “Night’s Blood” attacks with increasing intensity, featuring thrashy riffs reminiscent of Slayer, interspersed with the tremolo picking typical of the Melodic Black Metal characteristic of Sweden. With the engines roaring, we navigate through a chaotically controlled storm of blast beats, melodies, and Jon Nödtveidt’s harrowing screams (who, in my opinion, delivers the best vocal performance of his career with Dissection on this album), achieving a perfect amalgamation of all these elements and showcasing a masterful songwriting talent that still sounds as fresh as the day it was released.
It’s difficult to talk about Dissection without mentioning one of their greatest hits, “Where Dead Angels Lie.” After the escalating storm of fury that is “Unhallowed,” “Where Dead Angels Lie” slows things down and reveals a delicate and elegant form of poetic darkness that still sends shivers down my spine every time I hear it. Sometimes I wish I could listen to this song for the first time and rediscover its melancholically beautiful passages. This golden work continues to project melancholic yet sinister scenarios song after song, employing an elegance and musical prowess rarely equaled in the world of metal. It is an indisputable, immortal, sublime, and exceptional album that continues to inspire legions of new musicians who dare to share their musical ideas with the world, taking Dissection as their beacon of reverence. Despite their short discography, they managed to cement their name in golden letters.
As a minor aside, I never understood the debate surrounding whether Dissection was a Melodic Death Metal or Melodic Black Metal band. While it’s true their music fluctuated between these subgenres, Black Metal was always the constant and dominant element throughout their discography. Although their latest album is clearly and undeniably Melodic Death Metal, or even modern Heavy Metal with harsh vocals, if we want to see it from that perspective. What is undeniable is that there are entire legions of bands that have taken Dissection as a reference point for their music, inheriting the dark flame that this band once carried.
I don’t have much more to add about this album; it’s difficult to say more than what has already been said and what we all already know. I simply wanted to contribute my two cents to pay tribute to one of my favorite bands and one of the best Metal albums of all time. An unsurpassed classic whose echo resonates to this day and will continue to be part of the collective imagination of the dark souls who inhabit this musical style.