Review by Jeger on July 23, 2024.

Although most of the genre’s progenitors would probably deny it, much of early second wave BM was inspired by death metal/grind from Mayhem’s “Deathcrush” with its Napalm Death-worshipping rhythms (funny because Euronymous hated bands like them) to Swedish BM powerhouses, Marduk, and their 1992 “Dark Endless” LP. Black metal vocals, death metal everything else. But it wouldn’t be long before most speed metal, doom, thrash and death metal influences went out the window as the genre began to take on mystical forms of its own. It wasn’t long before albums like “De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas” (Mayhem), “Thy Mighty Contract” (Rotting Christ) and “Those of the Unlight” (Marduk) were being released much to the bewilderment of most extreme metal fans who were wondering where the gore was and why these dudes didn’t play a million miles an hour. Total fucking darkness, Satanic and misanthropic metal that would prove to be so much more meaningful than any of the aforementioned sub-genres. And in 1993, Marduk released the aforementioned “Those of the Unlight” via Osmose Productions.

Early Swedish scene pioneers alongside the mighty Dissection and Sacramentum whose business it was to show how gorgeous black metal can be with a little or a whole lot of melody. “Those of the Unlight” is minimalist in this department compared to the likes of “Storm of the Light’s Bane” and “Far Away from the Sun” but an altogether savory experience in comparison to what bands like Darkthrone and Burzum were producing. A genuine compositional specimen with “Darkness Breeds Immortality” and “Wolves” to see you off into shadows and where the feral roam. Dramatic shifts in tempo along with finesse blast-beats and an overall touch-over-power approach to percussion to make up the former, while the latter unfolds to more epic, even anthemic tones. One of Marduk’s most celebrated album cuts: catchy yet unique and an homage to animal instinct - one of black metal’s most vital concepts - the primitive wolf, senses clean and on the hunt for sacred flesh.

38 minutes worth of wholesome Swedish black metal crafted with not only genre integrity in mind but also dynamics. So much of the early second wave demos, EP’s and even LP’s are such baser level trash (have you heard Funeral Winds early demos? Yikes…), but not “Those of the Unlight”. With this sophomore volume, Marduk exude levels of professionalism, wisdom and patience not akin to the reckless nature of youth. Just on another level, not Dissection level, but right there underneath. Marduk have always hailed death, both on the individual and the grande scale and this necro-reveling began with the aptly-titled “Burn My Coffin” - more aggressive and a foreshadowing of the defining stylistics that would so outline everything this band has done well over the years.

Marduk stand as one of the few respectable mainstream black metal bands out there alongside outfits like Watain and Tsjuder whose zeal for and knowledge of true black metal will always trump their admonished mainstream status. Not like fucking Dark Funeral. Marduk have something called integrity and each one of their records: volumes of war, death and the diabolical venture so much deeper than shallow and vague, cash-grab Satanic concepts. Their latest “Memento Mori” sees the band in a rejuvenated state; inspired by death and wallowing in its many macabre facets. Definitely one of their best to date. I imagine a fine vintage going down much the same way - aged to perfection - complex and yet smooth/sweet as fresh black grapes off the vine. That’s a nice way of saying that these crusters have been at it so long that their grandkids are in little black metal bands of their own. Not really, but you get the idea. Champions of the Sverige path to black metal and Sages of its truth are Marduk. Here’s to the unlight! And may only Lucifer’s light cut through its darkness…

Rating: 10 oput of 10