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DARK FUNERAL / VON :
DEVIL PIGS

You can either look at this as a re-issue with a big bonus section, or as a split CD, either way, it's some pretty rare underground shit. This is essentially a re-release of the 1994, self-titled, four-track, debut-EP from Sweden's Dark Funeral, (later re-titled "In The Sign"). For your listening pleasure, there are two added tunes, "Equimanthorn" and "A Call From The Grave", which are both Bathory covers. However, there are also another eight tracks added from the legendary American proto Black-Metal band Von. Here we have their 1988 demo "Satanic Blood". Why Von you ask? Well, Dark Funeral are big fans, and were greatly influenced by Von. They even covered the track "Satanic Blood" on their full-length debut "The Secrets Of The Black Arts", so I guess they do sort of go together. Now, that all might sound like a lot of music, but the whole thing only clocks in at 44:46. The Dark Funeral stuff is pretty cool, well crafted, necro Black-Metal in its purest form. This is right up there with early Darkthrone etc., and the Bathory covers add a nice touch. If you're a fan, and still don't have this, it's a no brainer that you need to pick this up. Von on the other hand is an acquired taste. Who are Von, some of you are asking? Von were similar in a way to Hellhammer, in that they were ultra lo-fi, primitive, blackened Death-Metal, and total cult. Depending on your taste, you'll either find their sound to be truly underground, or truly amateurish (I'm kind of in the middle). The most insane part of their sound was the drums. As "Snake" would pound these things, they would give off the weirdest sound. It's as if the skins on the bass drums were on way too loose, or that they where moving in slow motion. The sound that plods through your speakers almost seems to sound like they were recording underwater. The songs tend to blend together with similar beats, and form an almost tribal rhythm. It's as if they put some obscure Satanic chants to music. Not a lot is known about this band, or its members. However bassist "Kill" (AKA Joe Allen), as of 2002, is now a member of the Death Metal band Abscess. This is as about as underground as it can get, so some will love it, others will dismiss it as a joke. Historically however, it was/is invaluable to the formation of the current Black-Metal scene. For more info on Dark Funeral, check out darkfuneral.se. If you think there is a flashy official Von web site out there, forget it.
RATING = 7.5 Black-Metal (Released 2004)

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DARK FUNERAL :
DE PROFUNDIS CLAMAVI AD TE DOMINE

While the world of Black-Metal patiently awaits the band's new album due out in October of this year (currently to be entitled "Attero Totus Sanctus"), we have been given a live slab of blasphemy to help tide us over. The band shouldn't really need an introduction, either you're already into this long-running Swedish Blackened horde, or this style of necro Black-Metal just isn't for you. If you're not into the band, but wanna check 'em out, I wouldn't recommend this live record as your initial purchase. (Nor would I recommend a live record as your first introduction to any band for that matter). If you're already a fan however, well then I can't see you being disappointed in the band's first ever live disc. It was recorded in South America in 2003, and has the band in front of a very enthusiastic crowd, snarling and blasting through 14 anthems in praise of the horned one. In truth, there's really not much to say. It's pretty much a basic, by the numbers live disc. The tunes span the band's entire career, the sound is pretty good (especially considering the nature of the genre), and it clocks in at just over an hour. If you're a big fan, or if you've never been able to catch them live, then grab it, don your corpse paint, turn your volume up to "10" and prepare for an hour of head-banging, hair-swirling, and frenzied air guitar.
RATING = 7 Black-Metal (Released 2005)

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