Sweden's black metal elite are among the best the genre has to offer. This, of course, includes the genre-defining Bathory, as well as legends like Dissection and Marduk. Not far below those bands is SACRAMENTUM, from the city of Gothenburg.
Forming as Tumulus in the summer of 1990, the band initially consisted of Anders Brolycke, Nisse Karlén, Freddy Andersson, and Mikael Rydén. Influenced by the thrash and speed metal of the 80s, the members of Sacramentum were united in their desire to create extreme metal. The product was something with a distinctly Swedish sound, but that was uniquely Sacramentum at the same time.
"Pagan Fire" is a classic track off of 1994's Finis Malorum
From their formation in 1990 until 1992, the band labored in the underground as Tumulus, with no released demos to my knowledge. After changing their name to Sacramentum, they put out the 1993 demo Sedes Impiorum. This demo, and their first proper studio release (the 1994 EP Finis Malorum), showcased a sound that was at once an aggressive interpretation of Bathory-styled black metal (some of the faster songs off of 1985's The Return, for example, seem to me a good reference point) but with the melodic guitar playing associated with Swedish acts ranging from At the Gates to Eucharist to Dissection to Necrophobic.
"Fog's Kiss" is a fantastic song off of Far Away from the Sun
In 1996, Sacramentum put out their first full-length album--Far Away From the Sun--on underground label Adipocere Records. This was a refining of the sound from Finis. The melodic guitar playing was more prominent, but the black metal aggression was still there. This album and its follow-up (1997's Coming of Chaos) are vital Swedish black metal albums. If there is a stereotypical Swedish black metal sound, Sacramentum helped originate it.
"Black Destiny" is my all-time favorite Sacramentum track
After putting out a third full-length in 1999 (the underwhelming Thy Black Destiny), Sacramentum had plans to put out an album of metal covers in early 2000 and then re-enter the studio to record album number four. However, they broke up before that could materialize. By that point, their mark had been left on the scene. Few black metal bands equaled the raw intensity of Sacramentum's melodic style as well as they, but many Swedish bands have tried.
Select Discography:
Sedes Impiorum (demo) (1993)
Finis Malorum EP (1994)
Far Away From the Sun (full-length) (1996)
The Coming of Chaos (full-length) (1997)
Thy Black Destiny (full-length) (1999)
Next time: DEAD CHRIST (and British black metal before Cradle of Filth)
Swedish band OPHTHALAMIA represents an unusual chapter in black metal. Much like Abruptum (which featured many of the same members), Ophthalamia was about evil, atmospheric music that had much in common with black metal without being straightforward black metal in the way we understand the term now. But make no mistake, Ophthalamia and their output made a definite mark on not just the Swedish scene of the nineties, but black metal since then.
Ophthalamia was, first and foremost, a brainchild of the man known as IT. Born one Tony Särkkä, IT made his name in various extreme bands of the late 1980s, including thrash band Brejn Dedd (which featured Dan Swanö). While IT formed Opthalamia with guitarist All in 1989 from the ashes of their band Leviathan, this band was fundamentally created to be an outlet for IT to communicate about a fantasy world he himself had concocted. This fantasy world was called Ophthalamia. The name is derived from the word for an eye condition: this is a metaphor for the fact that not everyone can see or perceive the fantasy world. The world of Ophthalamia was populated with various fantasy creatures, had its own language, and even had a dark goddess, Elishia. All of these were created by IT.
"A Lonely Ceremony/The Eternal Walk" is from one of their first recordings, in 1990
In 1991, Ophthalamia put out their first demo, A Long Journey. Ophthalamia's style can best be described as an eerie, melodic, almost doom-paced sound that drew on everything from classic doom metal (Black Sabbath and Candlemass can clearly be heard) to old-school black metal (Bathory). Attempting to communicate their devotion to Elishia and their love of the Ophthalamian mythos, the band created an evil atmosphere with their music above all else.
"A Cry From the Halls of Blood/Empire of Lost Dreams" comes from the 1991 demo
Following the release of a 1992 demo, Journey to Darkness, Ophthalamia signed with Avantgarde Records. They put out their first full-length album A Journey in Darkness in 1994. Featuring newly re-recorded versions of many of their demo songs, this release was produced by legendary musician Dan Swanö and featured Jon Nodtveidt of Dissection fame on vocals. This album contains a darkly melodic sound that fits in well with the 1990s Swedish black metal scene all while being unique in and of itself. To my ears, A Journey in Darkness is Ophthalamia's best work.
Off of their first studio album, this is "Enter the Darkest Thoughts of the Chosen/Agony's Silent Paradise"
Ophthalamia's storied career involves many members leaving or being kicked out (co-founder All, for example), and famous names being involved at various points (producers Dan Swanö and Peter Tagtgren; musicians Ole Ohman, Legion [of Marduk fame], and Jon and Emil Nodtveidt). But as stated above, the band was really about IT's desire to tell the world of the realm known as Ophthalamia, its lore, and its inhabitants. After A Journey in Darkness, Ophthalamia put out a few more albums, as well as the 1997 compilation To Elishia.
From their last album--1998's Dominion--this is "Time for War"
Moving right along, we come to Sweden's DISSECTION ---arguably one of the most important black metal bands of all time. You could even make the argument that they are Sweden's second-most important black metal band after Bathory.
They formed in late 1989, with members Jon Nodtveidt, Ole Ohman, and Peter Palmdahl being present at the beginning. By mid-1990, they had a rehearsal tape (Severed Into Shreds) circulating in the underground. Their first demo, The Grief Prophecy, was recorded in that same year, and saw the light of day in late 1990.
"The Call of the Mist" is from their 1990 demo (note the death metal sound)
Their sound on these early demos/rehearsals was more like the currently popular Swedish death metal, and less like the black metal sound pioneered by Bathory. They had that guitar tone that was reminiscent of the Sunlight Studios buzzsaw sound, and growled vocals. At the same time, the lyrical content was a little more gore-focused than traditional black metal.
From Dissection's 1991 EP, Into Infinite Obscurity
In 1991, Dissection released the Into Infinite Obscurity EP. On this, the sound had begun to shift away from death metal, and to a more black metal sound. The buzzsaw guitar tone was still present, but the song structures bore more resemblance to black metal at this point. Dissection's sound continued to mature on the 1992 demo The Somberlain and the full-length album of the same name that came out in 1993.
"Frozen" is one of Dissection's best songs off of The Somberlain
The Somberlain was great melodic black metal, and by this time, there were barely any death metal elements present in the songs. Dissection had truly created a sound all their own. They could not be accused of copying anyone. I would argue that Bathory and Dissection did the most to put Swedish black metal on the map in terms of its own sound (and this is coming from a die-hard Marduk fan).
"Unhallowed", from Dissection's Storm of the Light's Bane
In 1995, Dissection released what is one of the gems of all black metal: the full-length album Storm of the Light's Bane. This saw the perfection of their style, and is perhaps the pinnacle of all Swedish black metal. Everything Bathory did, everything subsequent bands had done (Marduk, Nifelheim, Dark Funeral, etc.), the sound on this album encapsulated it perfectly. The tremolo riffing associated with black metal, but with a darkly melodic edge to it is the best short way to describe Dissection's sound. With this album, they peaked.
In the years immediately following this, Dissection put out a rarities collection, a live album, and the Where Dead Angels Lie EP (which was shaped like an inverted cross!). Jon Nodtveidt and the rest of the band seemed to have differing visions as to how they wanted the band to proceed. They were on the verge of breaking up when Jon was arrested and sentenced to prison for being an accomplice to murder.
From 1997 to 2004, Jon served his prison term. When he got out he re-formed Dissection and wanted to focus on his Satanic beliefs. The resulting music--the "Maha Kali" single and the Reinkaos full-length--was more melodic death metal than black metal. I personally found it derivative and somewhat boring.
After some moderate success with this re-formed Dissection, Jon Nodtveidt killed himself in 2006. According to those who knew him best, this was part of his plan from the outset. His suicide was part of a Satanic pact, allegedly.
Playing the legendary "Night's Blood" live
Select Discography:
Severed Into Shreds (demo) (1990) The Grief Prophecy (demo) (1990) Into Infinite Obscurity (demo) (1991) The Somberlain (demo) (1992) The Somberlain (full-length album) (1993) Storm of the Light's Bane (1995) Where Dead Angels Lie EP (1996) Live Legacy (live album) (2003)
"Maha Kali" (single) (2004) Reinkaos (2006)
