By Lee Newman
I’ve always been a little skeptical of bands that, despite being well past their prime, simply refuse to go quietly into that good night. Time has not been the kindest to the legendary metal bands of old, yet many still linger on as some slapdash, aging version of themselves (heard any of Venom’s recent releases? Oh, how the mighty have fallen). Mayhem arguably hit their peak in 1994 with De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas, the most ardently revered release in their discography. But here they are, a full twenty years later, coming at us with Esoteric Warfare – which, overall, was a pleasant surprise. Though their lineup is different and more than double the age of the scrappy teenagers who laid De Mysteriis to tape, Esoteric Warfare is a brawny, respectable black metal album.
While some may accuse Mayhem of trying too hard to hold onto their former glory, I’d have to disagree. The band’s existence in 2014 is a testament to their ardor, not some uncalled-for attempt at relevance. Sure, there aren’t any rough gems like “Freezing Moon” on this album, but then, these aren’t the days of playing into thrift store tape recorder in a shitty basement apartment anymore. Production-wise, Esoteric Warfare is exceedingly polished, and Mayhem’s sound has developed into one can hold its own against some of the more agreeable black metal projects of the 21st century (think Reinkaos-era Dissection or Watain). The band has mostly laid the past to rest, and sounds alright for it.
Despite the progression of their songwriting, 2014 Mayhem still bears some eerie reminders of the Mayhem of old. I’d attribute it to the uncanny agelessness of Attila Csihar’s operatic vocals, which sound completely unaltered by the passage of time. The mix feels a little oppressive with its overwrought bass and drums, but the songwriting is more than tolerable. It is the epitome of tightly controlled chaos. Dissonant open-string sweeps and speed-demon double-kick drums are spread liberally throughout the album, reminders of the now-traditional genre characteristics Mayhem helped introduce in the ‘90s.
The band plays their instruments like they’re trying to choke the life out of them. Every transition is savage, every chord’s attack sharp as a knife. Esoteric Warfare starts off fast and keeps getting faster, and the lightning pace becomes wearying song after song. However, “Milab” is much-needed respite with its ghostly guitars, and later, “Corpse of Care” provides a moment of clarity in the middle of an album that has proven its technical prowess, but has not yet grabbed us by the throat and made us feel in the way black metal should. It’s anguished, halting and cathartic, a pleasure to ride out till the end of the track, while others buckle under the weight of their too-big production.
Overall, it’d be nice to hear the band let their parts breathe, and ease up on the breakneck pacing a bit. Esoteric Warfare isn’t the greatest of albums, but given the circumstances, it could be so much worse. Long live the old guard.
http://www.season-of-mist.com/bands/mayhem
