ALBUM REVIEW: Dark Medieval Times (re-release) – Satyricon

Reviewing re-releases of classic albums presents something of a dilemma. SATYRICON released Dark Medieval Times in 1994, more than 25 years ago, during the peak of the influential and infamous Norwegian black metal scene. The ingredients that created this album were unique; a rabid period of music that thrived on tape trading and rebellion. As a genre, it is more closely linked to the British grindcore scene of the 1980s, or the US hardcore and death metal scenes, rather than any of the black metal we see today.

The fact is, unless you were there, embedded in the scene, it is hard to look at an album like this with the deserved context. In 2021, stripping this down to just the music does SATYRICON a disservice for several reasons. To be blunt, modern life has stripped these bands of what made them terrifying. By pouring over a short period of musical history, in part due to the bizarre cast of characters that were instrumental in it, we almost know too much about black metal.

It might seem a little over-the-top to make these sorts of grand statements for a review, but for a genre so focused on atmosphere, black metal is arguably the genre that has suffered the most from over-exposure. The deep, often uncomfortable themes do not transfer as smoothly as the more politically focused classic punk albums or horror-movie gore of death metal.

Instead, let us look at Dark Medieval Times in a different way. To start with, it is a stunning accomplishment. Satyr was just 17 when he wrote and produced this album and it’s a release that refuses to conform. It combines the raw propulsion of black metal with the melodic, historical neofolk in ways that still feel fresh today. Backed by the now famously talented Frost on drums, it is a fully textured listen that never drops the ball.

The remastering for Napalm Records really brings the album to life (and widens its availability). The melodic folk instrumentations are crisp and clear, cutting through the frosty black metal sections. The heavier moments also have a clarity to them, instead of muddling into a stripped back mess.

While it remains a testament to the band’s talent – releasing such a rich debut after only a handful of demos. There are moments where it feels like Satyr is reaching for something just out of his grasp. It’s clearest on Skyggedans, which slows to a mid-paced rumble, interspersed with the same melodic troupes established during the first two tracks.

It’s so close to being the grandiose track they clearly want it to be, but through inexperience or a lack of tools at the time, it never quite reaches that upper echelon. So much of Dark Medieval Times feels like the building blocks that would finally fit together on The Shadowthrone and Nemesis Divina. Combining the speed and viciousness of ‘pure’ black metal with those introspective moments to produce a series of classic albums.

With that said, this is not an album that should be ignored. Even with the benefit of hindsight, the loss of mystique that has come with time. Dark Medieval Times is a legitimate black metal classic, that not only paved the way for greater levels of experimentation with the genre’s form, but also stands up today as an excellent listen.

Rating: 7/10

Dark Medieval Times (re-release) is out now via Napalm Records

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