Infernal Eternal

Well, let's get straight to the meat of the matter: eighteen tracks, spread over 2 discs (which can be had at single disc price, I believe - at least here in the States) from a series of recordings in France during the World Panzer Battle Tour - basically Marduk's last tour of Europe supporting 'Panzer Division Marduk'. The second disc also includes a few video clips of the band live, for PC users only - which explains why there's only six audio tracks on it. Having made the necessary arrangements to view these clips, I was pleasantly surprised to see that their overall quality, presentation, etc. was excellent, in line with the great sound on this recording as a whole. So, a soundboard recording, taken from several dates (or at least a few - this isn't all from one show), digitally edited and pieced together and then mastered responsibly... it all adds up to an impressive package, and a more than adequate live 'representation' of this band, who are known to be a great, tight, masterful stage unit. At least this is what I've read - I missed them on their tour here with Deicide, and I'm still kicking myself over that, as it was probably my only chance to catch them. I don't see them returning to Dallas anytime soon.

Anyway, there's isn't really any use in 'reviewing' the music included here - if you aren't a fan of Marduk, this album wouldn't really be the best way to be introduced to them (try 'Opus Nocturne' or 'Nightwing'), and if you are a diehard fan of this band, then you probably have all of these songs in your collection already, in a much better format. All you might be missing would be their cover of Celtic Frost's 'Into The Crypt of Rays', in case you still haven't picked up their 'Obedience' EP, which was issued again here in the US at the same time this came out. No, this album really would be great, I am thinking, for those of you who just can't get enough of live albums, for whatever reason, or the fans of this band that have never really got the chance/opportunity to delve into their back catalog... let's face it: until a short time ago, all of Marduk's prior releases cost in the range of $19-21 domestic here, and not many people, I am guessing, shelled out the $100+ to gather all their albums together in one place. Besides, any Marduk album is pretty much representative of the rest.

A live 'situation' is commonly where the men are separated from the boys, and in case you were wondering, Marduk do not really have any problems at all reproducing their material live... if anything the songs are more energetic, more chaotic, and - in general - even more vicious here than on the original records...

So, for people like this, 'Infernal Eternal' is a pleasing glimpse into the slow evolution of this band over the years, going all the way back to 'Dark Endless' and then running through their records to the present, with a major slice of the material (a third) here being from 'Nightwing' and 'Panzer Division Marduk'. It's especially interesting to hear old(er) classics like 'Burn My Coffin' up against '502' and 'Slay the Nazarene' (which Legion harshly introduces by screaming: 'If you don't know which one this is, what the fuck are you doing here?'), even though I believe the more recent songs are so viciously over the top they make the older ones pale in comparison... which is a rarity among bands, if you stop and think of it... 'Slay the Nazarene', in particular, is played so blurringly, blindingly fast that it sounds like Fredrik is going to rip his drums to pieces and just start spinning around like a tornado... amazing.

The sound here, as I noted above, is more than adequate, reproducing all the instruments (and Legion's voice) clearly, without a large amount of distortion or echo. B. War's bass comes through with his finger-twisting lines again and again, much like on their most recent album, and I believe he is finally getting the amount of 'coverage' in their mixes that he deserves. As to the rest, there is a minimum of crowd noise or in-between-song banter... no, this is all out war, from start to finish, adding up to (the audio portion only) seventy-nine and a half minutes (!) of grinding Swedish black metal torment. More Marduk than you can shake a stick at - more, in fact, than most people can take in one sitting. I should know, because when I first got this I stupidly listened to it all the way through and ended up with a monstrous migraine. You definitely get your money's worth (of pain) with this release... also, one thing I can say for certain is that this album is so much better than Mayhem's live release ('Mediolanum...') that it makes the Norwegian scene look embarrassing in comparison. Even though this release is lengthy, voraciously rabid, and hurts my ears in the long run, it is addictively listenable... I've spun it a number of times now, and I haven't had it that long.

Included in the total package is a thick booklet, complete with full lyrics (finally) and a middle section (I want to call it a centerfold, but it's not) full of adequate-to-good pictures of the band playing live - including a great snapshot of Morgan and B. War gleefully walking down a city street in (I am guessing) Japan wearing full corpse paint. The cover art - magnificent as usual, and slightly reminiscent of Frazetta's 'Death Dealer' - is by Petagno. Any questions? You should know if you want this.

UA

Erebus Magazine
http://erebuszine.blogspot.com

The only reason I’m reviewing this happens to be my safety. You see, the tyrannical powers of my editors put a metaphorical gun to my head and demanded more shit on Marduk, so here you go!

Anyway, here we have another live recording of these black metal goons continuing a saga so bad, it could make zombies wish they were still buried. “We don’t need flesh! We’re just trying to get away from this shit,” they’ll cry in suffering unison. The release is dubbed “Infernal Eternal,” a two-CD set featuring Marduk doing their thing throughout touring for “Panzer Division Marduk,” which easily explains why many numbers from that source appear cited in scattered form. Whether it been some massive show or just prime cuts, the stench of foulness reeks unmercifully upon materialized filth claiming invisible wealth, but what were you expecting? Something not covered in feces? Get out of here!

Nothing hurts me more than depicting arguments given endless cycling, yet it has to be said once again: there is not an ounce of comprehension here. Blasting and wild guitar modules layered upon more blasting and wild guitar modules is all we receive, laced with Legion’s spitting for an experience sucking your cerebral cortex into mush. The band’s first live album (“Live in Germania”) was scorn force-fed unto its victims, but “Infernal Eternal” is downgrading that vision even further; clearly, their lackluster presence has underdeveloped since years past, leaving Marduk blander than vanilla, not that vanilla is bad, but this is, I’m afraid. Essentially, it’s like some black metal squad given a lobotomy and recording random bashes during an embarrassment of eclipsing ages. Nothing would thrill me more than to witness eggs and beers clocking each member until they fall into tears; that would be a thing of beauty. Fatality! I win.

In continuation of this suffering atrocity, Marduk gives us two CDs featuring eighteen anthems we all hate hearing, only cooked with more blockheadedness than before. Not only is the release horribly produced and a wall of sound, solos have been removed (excluding the Celtic Frost cover) from decent anthems like “On Darkened Wings” whilst maintaining rhythm sections for the soloing lengths; basically more blistering cacophony stripped even further. Better yet, Legion occasionally attempts making the crowd chant at awkward moments. I can just picture some idiot covered in armor trying to get everyone pumped, but monotone noise probably chilled that plan he so desperately thought would impress, instead making that mongoloid stupider than a horse’s ass. And people wonder why Marduk is the epitome of poorness in black metal. Give me a damn break!

Live albums are either jackpot or bankruptcy, but this piece of crap hits the lowest of lows any offering of such criteria could possibly endure. Marduk is not only exercising a performance so dull it could burn your chromosomes, but they picked awful tunes for representation and ruined their rare cuts that aren’t total filler; add shitty production, and welcome to this nightmare. I’d like to mention a few things I enjoyed, but they do stupid stuff like omitting solos and remain monotone for nearly ninety minutes without saying, “Doesn’t it look a bit retarded?” What fucking idiots. Anyway, “Infernal Eternal” is cooped poop that I suggest avoiding entirely, even if you find this shit acceptable.

This review was written for: www.Thrashpit.com

MARDUK, when one says this name, every real black metal fan shivers. Authors of the of the most powerful back metal songs thoughout legendary albums like Nightwing and Panzer Division Marduk, the Beast celebrates its 10th birthday, a magnificent present for the fans, a double live album! The set list is awsome, it perferctly resumes this black metal monument which is Marduk, with their greatest songs, it lasts quite long (1 hour 20)... actually it lasts really long, i don't know if my ears would have survived had I been there! The sound is great, the guitar riffs harass your ears with incredible velocity, very effective ;) .
The drumming stays in rythm (which means nice and fast), it just never stops. And Legion's singing is actually screeching like hell, he just throws up his words into your face.
Globally this is a very powerful live which demonstrates Marduk's career 'beautifully' (if i may say so), good sound, maybe too good, it almosts looks studio recorded. Anyway, Marduk stays Marduk, which means awsome.
Get this release.

First off, I am not used to all these BM bands. I still can't understand fully the "norsecore" tag and I am more of an "old school" guy (Soulside Journey is DT's best. Period).

But this album changed my point of view on these type of bands. Marduk plays fast. That's the constant here. But they have some great ideas and variations that they should be doing in greater numbers. Doing so could bring some less speed-oriented playing and add another dimension to the music.

One of the aspects that brought my attention was the guitars. There are no "scary" melodies (aka minor or minor/harmonic scales). And since I have heard countless bands using this melodic stuff, listening to Marduk was almost refreshing. Most of the guitar/bass parts are solid.

The vocals are not exactly your usual bm shriek. Not annoying, but very, very close.

Great live band I must say. Well, at least I was amazed at how tight and precise the band is, even when playing at full speed. Overall, a good live album, with a pretty clean, but heavy production. Minus points for not listing the albums where each song came in and for cutting off the audience. It's a live album, godammit!

What, another one? Only four short years after Marduk's first live album, "Live in Germania", they unleash "Infernal Eternal", yet another live chronicle. However, this one is fairly worthwhile even for the casual Marduk fan. Even people who hated the 'norsecore' turn their music took on "Nightwing" and "Panzer Division Marduk" admit that they put on a killer live show, and this album chronicles this just as well as Germania did. "Infernal Eternal" was intended to be a ten-year anniversary special, so they pulled out all the stops - it's a two-disc set (supposed to be priced as a single disc, so give the finger to those unscrupulous distros jacking up the prices!) that features 18 songs spanning their entire career - and they didn't ignore their brilliant early work either. Three songs from each of their first two discs appear, as well as generous amounts of songs from all of their other albums, PLUS a cover of Celtic Frost's "Into the Crypt of Rays". The second disc also contains PC-CDROM videos of three of the songs on this album.

And now the inevitable comparison - even if you have Germania you should get this, because it does outshine that earlier album. Only four of these 18 songs are shared between releases, so there's PLENTY of live insanity you haven't heard before (unless you were there, of course...). The sound on "Infernal Eternal" is much cleaner and thicker than the earlier live album, even despite only having one guitar - only twice does the sound suffer a 'dropout' because of having no rhythm under the solo. The performances are unbelievably tight and sound even more powerful with the great production and mix job. The only gripe I could level is that, like "Germania", they pasted together different tracks from different dates so it loses that cohesiveness that make great live albums awesome. The layout is well-done as always, with lots of great live pics (including a collage spread...) and even lyrics. It sounds great, it looks good, and has enough songs from each era of the band to make it worthwhile for almost all of their fans.

(Originally published at LARM (c) 2001)