SAMAEL

Above

Nuclear Blast/ CD 2009

Over twenty years passed since we had the chance to get to know, for the first time, the band which brought something unique and fresh. Their music was classified as black metal, but did not sound norvegian, like 99 percent of the bands from that times. Since the first album they reached the top, gained popularity among European Headbangers. I still remember learning some lyrics by heart, painting the t-shirts with that old flaming logo. I cannot forget escapades to bigger town when their albums were announced in underground zines. In Poland, getting back to nineties, they became the cult act, which was followed by the countless crowds of metal maniacs.

After editing "Passage" their music diametrically changed. Samael left the diabolical grounds to move in new, more industrial spaces, which was the milestone in extreme music. In 2009 they are back with the new album - "Above", but as it is announced by Vorph the music from "Above" will take us back to that times of the beginning.

I would never expect, that Samael could explore such music areas again. "After Solar" soul I would rather find them discovering the completly different sound territories; more electronic, cosmic-like, industrial with more clean vocals and carefully drafted melodies and oriental spice added. Surprisingly "Above" smashed my ears from the very begining. The harsh and tearing guitars, rushing along with thundering drums, which hammer the listener into a thick sound wall, behind which there is still enough space for typically samaelish keyboars parts and windy, more than ever demonized vocals. Take the industrial-driven pulse of "Passage" and dark, enigmatic formula of "Ceremony of Opposites", throw in some great, well shaped riffs. Resign from everything unpure in metal. Intensify blasting energy as much as you can. After twenty years of shaping the musical creature mesmerized in post-black with diveristy of influences, it is the time to hear the beast unleashed. There is no place for exprerimental visionary ponder this year. Face the masterpice, go straight into adorable, fresh intensity of "Under One Flag", complexity of "Black Hole"(check out the Xy virtuoso parts in it), catchy riffs of "Polygames", somehow retrospective "Earth Country", stimulating "In There", haughty (as the title may sugest) "On The Top Of It All". After first listening I was surprised. Second time I drank in every sound. After third round I was addicted to the extreme. Finaly I stopped counting, and let the music go on. Fortunately the music from "Above" is not to be discovered after first listening. There are too many lurking elements, back placed melodic passages, which appear later.

Get ready to the metal album of the year 2009. Discover! Absorve! Get shock!

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