Infernal Satanic Verses

Ah... good-ol' Mystic Circle, one of those bands that always tried to ride the coat-tails of whichever genre was in vogue at the time. In the late 90's, bands like Dimmu Borgir, Emperor, Covenant, and Cradle of Filth were enjoying a healthy dose of popularity, so it was expected that Mystic Circle wanted to have a slice of the cake by following their footsteps. Furthermore, talking about this band in black metal forums is not recommended, since they are almost always derided as "posers" and a "disgrace" to the German black metal scene. It also doesn't help to the band's cause that they are mostly remembered for their infamous Legacy interview, being overall copycats of better-established bands, and their tacky image, which makes Theatres des Vampires look like the world's most serious band. Don't believe me? Well, go and read their German Wikipedia article, if you're up for a good roast.

So, even with this in mind, are you still daring to give this album a spin? What could go wrong with a band that seems to draw more X-Pac heat than both Dimmu Borgir and Cradle of Filth combined? With everything that has been previously said, it would seem that Mystic Circle is the equivalent of the try-hard kid at high school, who thinks that wearing guyliner and pentagrams everywhere would make him the hottest shit in town, when in reality he's just making an utter fool of himself. However, somewhere around all this overcompensation, this kid gets to find his own voice, and manages to get some cool shit done, and score a hot chick who is way out of his league. Well, that's how I could summarize what Mystic Circle were able to achieve with this album.

I'm not a big fan of their previous works, I thought that "Morgenröte..." was downright boring and extremely bland, while "Drachenblut" was alright, but it became extremely repetitive after a while, and the keyboards were way overdone. This is not the case with "Infernal Satanic Verses", in which we can finally hear a band that has been able to channel their newfound confidence, and create some of the most ambitious compositions ever heard in symphonic and melodic black metal. Yeah, we know that the band is trying to milk on the success of bands such as Emperor, Dimmu Borgir, Cradle of Filth and Bal-Sagoth, but I must admit that they could actually do something really cool in this album, and even if what they play here is not that original, at least they do it with so much gusto and conviction, that I can let it slide.

So, what can we expect from this album? Just an aggressive, yet highly melodic brand of symphonic black metal, with seven songs that make use of several tropes that were overused by most of the late 90's bands. Guest female vocals by Sarah Jezebel Deva? Check. Plenty of keyboards? Check. Lengthy and quasi-operatic compositions? Check. However, I must say that unlike bands such as Mäctatus and Black Countess, Mystic Circle could finally showcase some of their own style and personality in this piece of work, and avoid sounding like third-rate copycats of more successful bands. We can finally appreciate that the guys of the so-called "Mystic Circus" have matured as musicians since their last two albums, and it seems they have learned from their own mistakes. I must admit that the musicianship in this album is way superior to the one found in "Drachenblut", so there is nothing left to do, but to commend the guys on the tremendous improvement they were able to make in just a year.

Musically speaking, I was pleasantly suprised to find out that everything is really well put-together in this album, all of the instruments can be clearly heard, and although keyboards are indeed plentiful, they do not overpower the other parts of the music. Vocals are the usual bullfrog croaking so characteristic of black metal, with some distorted spoken word passages and death grunts to add some variety. Fortunately, the female vocals are used sparingly, so they contribute to the overall quasi-operatic atmosphere, rather than being a detriment. It's also kind of surprising to find out that the bass is actually audible most of the time, something that is not very common in symphonic black metal bands, and this adds some extra punch and power to the music.

Another thing that the band did right is the keyboard work, it is not overdone as in the previous album, and I'm glad to find out that the songs are overall well-orchestrated and balanced, complementing the metal part of this album really well. At the same time, guitars have a more leading role this time, since they do not get lost in the barrage of sound, and most of the riffs are quite complex and meticulously arranged, with some leads and solos that add even more to the experience. There are plenty of times that these instruments complement each other really well and create epic and memorable riffs, for example, "Undestructable [sic] Power of Darkness" has a very memorable riff that is used twice, and one of those times is in the outro, showing how the band is able to exploit a good riff when they've got one, and using it smartly to leave an everlasting impact on the listener.

As we can see, songwriting was extremely ambitious for this album, and this can make or break a work. As I have previously stated in the above paragraph, "Undestructable [sic] Power of Darkness" is such a monstrous opener that sets the bar really high, and having such a good song at the beginning of the album, could be quite risky if the other tunes do not match up to those standards. But worry not, the following song "Hordes of the Underworld" has some of the best keyboard arrangements in the album, with some really cool piano parts and a strings arrangement that wouldn't be out of place in a horror movie; the shout-out to Carl Orff's "O' Fortuna" and The Omen's soundtrack at the beginning was quite cool from the band's part as well.

Another thing that the band could do quite well was incoporating the catchiness factor to some of their songs, something that is usually a big "no-no" in black metal. For instance, "The Devilstone" has a very catchy chorus that makes also good use of Sarah's vocals, and that wouldn't be out of place in an AOR anthem. Think things will slow down for the second part of the album? Wrong, the band now gets even more aggressive and it's high time that the guitarists unleash their A-game. The three following songs, "Thorns of Lies", "One with the Antichrist", and "Black Legions", are the most guitar-focused songs of the album, with plenty of leads and solos that showcase what Ezpharess and Isternos are capable of, giving that metal and chaotic edge to the grandiose symphonic part, thanks in part to the quite notorious Slayer influence in the guitar work.

Finally, I must save the best for last, "Fallen Christian Empire", which is arguably one my favorite black metal songs of all time, and what a way to close this album with a bang. The band throws epic riff after epic riff like bosses, but wait until you get to hear the final sequence, with the keyboards playing an orchestral arrangement, while the female vocals sound in the background and the rest of the band continues destroying everything on their path; and then a tremolo-picked guitar riff comes out of nowhere, played in a quite punk-influenced way that somehow works. Then, the band goes on berserk mode for a last time, and closes the album with a victory fanfare that could have been very well used in a JRPG.

However, this work is far from perfect, and there are some things that could have been improved. For example, I found the drum work rather unremarkable and quite weak, the drums tended to get lost in the background, and were mostly limited to just keeping the tempo, they just didn't stand out in any way. It's such a shame because this album would have greatly benefitted from having more complex drum work, and the production didn't help matters, since they sound quite mechanical, as if they were played by a machine.

Originality wasn't a strong suit here either, since the band was always known for playing whichever genre was popular at the time. However, since the music is very well-executed, and the band displays some degree of authenticity here, I will be more lenient in that aspect. Furthermore, it's such a pity that after this album, Mystic Circle abandoned this style and proceeded to milk the death metal trend of the early '00s, which led to a surplus of unmemorable releases that just couldn't hold a candle to this one. This was their true style, and I really wished that they had continue evolving and improving upon it, rather than jumping on the next fad's bandwagon. Guess old habits die hard...

To conclude, if you really want to give Mystic Circle a chance, this is the only album that you need. It's not the most original stuff, but it works, just like a previous reviewer had stated. Sometimes, we just need good music for a fun listening once in a while, and this album more than gets the job done. I'd also like to recommend this album to people who are getting into black metal, since the music is quite accessible and it makes a good gateway to start discovering and appreciating this genre.

Mystic Circle has never been the most authentic or the most competent black metal band. Some medias blamed them for being clowns who just follow the trendsetters and I cannot deny that "Infernal Satanic Verses" gives fodder for the critics. Already the first regular track after the atmospheric keyboard intro has all the ingredients that most genre fans despise: female vocals, a lot of melodic parts and an overuse of the synthetic keyboards. Is this really black metal? I don't think so. The melodic components are dominating, even though the band also knows how to handle more or less powerful and harsh high speed sections. However, one does not find a iota of ugliness, misanthropy or desperation. Generally speaking, the material reflects a compositional maturity, but nearly no features that characterise the genre. And the dudes have made a mistake which can be easily avoided. The songs are too long.

This is not to say that they lack substance. They are rather meticulously arranged. The problem here is that they are all based on the same pattern. Pretty direct and straight sections lead to harmonic parts and vice versa and the almost overrepresented tempo changes are remarkable. Sometimes I feel like listening to a dark opera (but I wanted a piece of metal). The clowns of the Mystic Circus do not offer a progressively designed album, by far not, but their songs are like a child that cannot sit still on its chair, not even for five minutes. The one-size-fits-all pattern makes the tunes interchangeable and there is not much that keeps sticking in my mind. Nevertheless, I want to be fair: "The Devilstone" has some very well executed parts and leaves a good overall impression, although it suffers - like each and every song here - from the expressionless nagging of the lead singer. Whenever the formation wants to create a dramatic part, he has to shut up and a female voice appears. Or, second alternative, he changes his way of articulation and tries to sound very demonic while speaking some nonsensical words.

Like thousands other bands, Mystic Circle tried to get some attention in the wake of Dimmu's or Cradle's success. This is no crime, but it also does not deserve respect and the same goes for the predictably clean production. It wants to combine pompous, heavy and atmospheric sounds, but after all, it just borders on boring mediocrity. By the way, the sound is also a little bit too polished, but I guess this is no surprise for you who are probably familiar with albums of hordes such as Mystic Circle. The tragedy of these imitators is that they actually have a good grasp of music in general, but instead of doing it their own way, they submit themselves to the God of greed. But as much as I regret it, this unpleasant dude is only interested in the both aforementioned role models when it comes to more or less symphonic "black" metal. Anyway, "Infernal Satanic Voices" is an album with some good yet not memorable sections - and it presents every stereotype of its genre. It's neither a catastrophe nor good and it tastes slightly stale.

What do you think of when you come across symphonic black metal? Is it Dimmu Borgir or Cradle of Filth? Do you like bands like Odium or Limbonic Art? Ha! It is not the case here. You see, something is different at the moment! The album artwork, guitar riffs and a bit of drumming too. I must put it to your notice that though the genre mentioned on the band's page is melodic black metal, they have always played symphonic black metal(at least on this album). Whatsoever, it is exclusive from the works of Dimmu or Cradle of Filth.

Every song has a notable component that attacks christianity and the weak lambs of Christ. I don't know if Mystic Circle gained that cult name in Germany. Because of the fact that the band is notably old and uses keyboards, we cannot call it a copycat or goth fags. You know what I am trying to convey! Use of keyboards has become a trend in black metal. Believe me, it's not 'cool'.

The exquisite sound is unique to Mystic Circle. Satanism is vividly hailed in the lyrics of the songs. Definitely it is one of those bands which could have been involved in the church burning activities. I wish it had happened, because the refined hatred in the vocals and atmosphere produces an image that at least two-three churches would have been put to siege. 'Church Burning Music' could have been another title to the album, but 'Infernal Satanic Verses' is a matchless one. The vocals are cold and raw. The female vocals contribute much to the satanic atmosphere. The quality of production is magnificent and meets every standard. No one can criticize on that. The vocalists do not give us any clue of a German accent, and so the vocals are perfect. You will observe that any Cliché is avoided here. They have got the ability to speed up and down very suavely. Also, the album artwork is really attractive.

I want to point one thing out, there is no such word as 'Undestructible' - The second song (Undestructable Power of Darkness) from the album. It is mentioned in the back cover also! Was that intentional? It's weird, when everything is going smooth, one encounters such a word!

My favourite song from the album is 'Fallen Christian Empire'. It is an ear orgasm to me. Intensive keyboard sounds combined with proper drumming beats at regular intervals to headband on!

I find the album pretty enough to buy and then listen to it quite often! It is definitely not a waste of your precious money. Why don't you give a try?

Mystic Circle's third album Infernal Satanic Verses is a well-done album with many surprises that keep you on your toes. From the multitude of instruments that make up their "symphony", to the interesting riffs that are both crushing and melodic.To begin the album, the band chose to use a slow, evil intro, which definitely surpasses what many other bands have done in the past. Still, this isn't exactly a new development for black metal. I would have liked hearing Undestructable Power of Darkness come first, and the intro saved for later.

Nonetheless, the aforementioned second track comes racing out of the gates, reminding me of Dimmu Borgir's Enthrone Darkness Triumphant (in a good way). The speed-infused melody on Infernal Satanic Verses makes it feel as much like a power metal album as a black metal album. I will say this, though: if you came here looking for innovation, you might be disappointed, because the influences are fairly obvious in this album. That isn't to say they're a clone, however. Mystic Circle appears to have taken the best of Dimmu Borgir, Cradle of Filth, Bal-Sagoth, even Bathory, and mashed them all together. The melodies work, the aggression works, and the singing works. In fact, that's a great way of putting the entire album. It simply works. It's probably not a masterpiece, but it does have some catchiness to it (in the same way Sargeist does).

These guys also did many other things correctly. You're always guessing what's going to come next... but you're usually wrong. Perhaps that's more a trait of symphonic black metal than this band specifically, but they still out-did the norm in that area. I was especially surprised by the ability for these guys to speed up and slow down in such sudden intervals (my favourite being the one at 2:20 and 2:50 on The Devilstone). After a while, Infernal Satanic Verses can get boring, though. Obviously songs get boring if they repeat too many times - which is not present on this album - but it's the actually the entire sound that doesn't change. Minute one (... or three) of the fifty minutes to the last is an onslaught of speed, melody and "Satanic charm". Some might not agree with me, but this can get kind of monotonous for a whole album, but great for a playlist including one or two of these songs.

Highlights of the album: Undestructable Power of Darkness, Hordes of the Underworld, Fallen Christian Empire, and the tiny album outro that harkens back to The Daemons Call.

To paraphrase the great John Chedsey, "I can see Black Metal Purists® cringing madly at this album." Hell, I can even see melodic black metal purists cringing at this. At first glance many can consider this a flimsy, derivative piece of over-the-toppery that outdoes CRADLE OF FILTH at their hokiest and most British (I know I did...), but if you look past the black velvet gloss and into the nitty-gritty of their musical exploits you'll find that it's not really a terrible disc at all. If nothing else, getting into the inner workings is like getting a vaccination; just shut up, grit your teeth, and let it happen.

"Infernal Satanic Verses" is NOT by ANY means a perfect or original album; instead, you get eight songs of well-versed, somewhat creative song-writing that combine moments of dark majesty with cringe-inducing hackneyeism. The riffs themselves are above average with tasty keyboard and guitar passages, but zip around and change tempos and time signatures with such haste that it almost gives you vertigo. More often than not the riffs move along with no real regard for arrangement or flow, giving the songs a feel of being a patchwork of ideas rather than real songs. At times they're dark and impurely evil, and other times they come off as happy and upbeat, far and away not at all the evil black metal the band presents themselves at in their lyrics, though cheesy and overblown as they are. The production can actually be taken into account here, as everything (save for most of the drumwork) is crisp and clear, giving you the ability to hear every instrument no matter how undermixed (prime examples include "The Devilstone", "Undestructable Power of Darkness" and "One with the Antichrist". Vocals are the standard reptilian rasps and growls common with black metal, interrupted temporarily by the operatic stylings of Sarah Jezebel Deva (OF ALL PEOPLE!) delivering said cheesy lyrics with only a fraction of the venom needed for musical Satanic blackness.

So at the end of the day, this isn't the greatest album ever, or even a GREAT album...this is merely decent enough for a listen here or there, and those times I did I found it good enough to keep.