Review by illusionist for Dissection (SWE) - The Somberlain (1993)

Best Melodic Black/Death ever, will pierce your soul like a burning arrow

My favorite metal album of all-time. Outwits, outcrafts, outmuscles all of its peers from the 90s Scandinavian black/death scene. There's not much to say except that every song is the complete package of what makes this type of music so spellbinding. Sinister yet melancholic guitar melodies, frostbitten chord progressions, soul-piercing screams, tight and impactful drums, gorgeous acoustic interludes, and ambitious / all-around epic songwriting. This album is truly a breathtaking experience and it is one I will likely always cherish.

Best of the best: A Land Forlorn, Heaven's Damnation, In The Cold Winds of Nowhere