With "Vobiscum Satanas" Sweden's elite blackmetallers, Dark Funeral dives deeper in atmosphere, creating very dark, cold and especially majestic soundscapes, a bit smoother (and better) sounds than on "The Secrets of the Black Arts". The basic 'Dark Funeral' riffing is still there, but with much more leads, which does not just make the music better sounding but it also gives it more technical feeling and I like it. Also I think that vocals have become a bit more harsh and "screamy", and some growls are also present. Seventh song (title song) is actually sung "growling" (well maybe more like spoken deeply) in it's entirety, and for some reason I didn't like it much.. but in other songs it works. About drums.. well, just imagine a perfect blackmetal drummer, makes no mistakes, does not slow down, handles all comps and tempos and top that off with a (near) perfect mixing and there you have it. Drumming is much of fast blasting but varies enough so it doesn't get boring, more variation than on previous album.Actually I can't think anything to complain.. well maybe the lyrics, towards the end they come a bit dull..

All together this is a one fucking great piece of Black Metal, fast, raw and furious, with infernal melodies and dark atmospheres. If you haven't listened it before now is the time. One of the best albums of 1998.

© 2000 wrath