I just realized that I haven't posted any black metal yet, and this one should be brief, which works well since I'm flat out of time these days. Anyway, I don't listen to a great deal of black metal, but Dawn (Sweden) has been one of my favorites from the moment I laid ears on this particular track seven long years ago. Taken from their second full-length, "Slaughtersun (Crown of the Triarchy)", released in 1998 on Necropolis Records, this song represents the absolute best black metal of its kind. That is to say that while it doesn't cater to the cold, raw aesthetic of the genre's roots (which I also appreciate), this is nothing short of a calculating and venomous attack of sheer fury: Shitloads of speed, just the right amount of melody, efficient repetition, and plenty of tortured emotion—not to mention excellent lyrics and a crisp recording. It's not pompous, nor is it hokey, and the scarce keyboards employed are actually rather stellar, in my opinion. Simply stated: This is a brilliant composition.
The track runs nine minutes, so the file's pretty damn big, but for the uninitiated it's worth every second of it:
Dawn "The Knell and the World"
The band has apparently been working on a new record forever at this point, but I don't know what's up with that since they haven't updated their website since late-2004. I'm not holding my breath, but I damn sure hope a third full-length affair manifests itself at some point in the future, because these guys really hit home with me. Just check out this snippet of the fuckin' lyrics, too. Hateful, yet poignant. Go figure.
Thrust the black inside, and suffocate the light in me. Throw the stones that kill the truth, deception must be absolute. Rape the mind that will not die, its sharpest throes must multiply. Dementia unresisted, psychosis of the mind. Generation X termination, the blind leading the blind towards the ends of the earth. Sweet cyanide seduction, grown numb from the poison that guides mankind beyond all hopes of rebirth. Tear further into violence, and send forth the blade that slaughters each cell. Stillbirth redemption, sterility dances to the rapturous sound of the knell...
I had no idea that this disc, too, is apparently pretty damn rare these days, which is quite a shame. It looks like every seller that I can find is asking at least $20 for it, which is news to me. It really is becoming far too hard to acquire out of print metal for reasonable prices, I'm pretty sick of it. Oh well, what can you do? Keep searching if you're so inclined... hopefully you'll be successful.
Thanks once more for all of the comments and emails. I owe many of you responses but I've been way too backed up, so I'm still slowly getting there. Sorry! Keep those random tidbits of information coming, for those of you more "in the know" than I about some of these bands. Thanks again.
I can't believe no one bought that copy of Shades Apart's "Neon" off of Half.com yet, though!? That's just crazy!
Comments
HELL YES! This song rules. More black, death and power metal mp3s would rule also.
6.17.2005 | By Jake
this is pretty awesome, andrew! it’s true that you probably won’t find this for reasonable prices on ebay and such; seems many metal people are very stingy. by the way, I need to listen to the split a few more times and I will tell you my thoughts, first impressions are very favorable!
—stephen
6.18.2005 | By Anonymous
evidently this was reissued by necropolis as a double cd with all their old stuff, at least that’s what it says on metal archives
6.18.2005 | By Anonymous
I liked this track a lot. Pretty epic and with plenty of variety, just how like my black metal to be.
6.19.2005 | By Mike S
Dawn is certainly one of the finest BM bands ever, in my opinion. I first heard them on a Necropolis sampler CD and hunted like hell for anything by them. Not much luck, unfortunately…
And I snagged “Neon” off half.com - thanks for the tip!
6.19.2005 | By Scott
This is really excellent stuff. Almost like a more black Burst or something. Nice call. I’ve already ordered the re-issue.
Thanks for the head’s up!
6.21.2005 | By Frank Realitos