La Grande Danse Macabre

After releasing a live record a few months ago, the legendary Marduk are back with a new album. Once again they deliver unsweetened black metal, but the good surprise is the more atmospheric songs between the "fist in the face" ones. Lyrically they are blasphemous and anti-christian but we've heard that many times now and it wouldn't hurt them to find some slightly more interesting themes (come on, is "Jesus Christ... Sodomized" such an inspired song title?). The songs are well balanced with a good diversity in the tempo and aggressiveness. For the rest Marduk has enough experience to make that album excellent if not original. The production is up to the reputation of the band and is even slightly too clean. The limited edition reviewed here has a bonus track: Samhain (Danzig cover). This CD already has its target audience and they won't be disappointed.