1349 - Beyond the Apocalypse +Album Reviews

BEST, MOST BRUTAL/FASTEST BLACK METAL EVER!!!

Richard W. Bechtold | Santa Cruz, CA USA | 01/07/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First I heard Satyricon and all I can say is "The Scorn Torrent".

Then I heard of 1349 through the forum on the Derek Roddy website. I was fortunate enough to find a copy of Liberation, their previous effort, at Streetlight Records. After much listening, I came to love the CD despite the horrible production. Then, I heard that they had an even newer CD out titled: "Beyond the Apocalypse", so I had to get it. What originally attracted me to this band was the drummer, Frost, and after hearing the latest release, I was thoroughly satisfied. The quality of the sound is much better than on Liberation, the bass pedals are more consistent sounding, the snare is better, the guitars are not drowned out by fuzz and the riffs are much more technical/dynamic. The bass is also more coherent. As for the singing, it is just as cold and evil as before. The lyrics are well thought out and add to the feeling given off by the music perfectly. Beyond the Apocalypse is basically better in every way, although Liberation is nonetheless still a masterpiece. Song for song, this CD delivers. Only the final track lets you breathe. I also appreciate the fact that these guys prefer no keyboards throughout the CD. Some would say it adds dynamics or whatever, but I know better. It would only take away from the brutality. Keyboards can add atmospheric qualities when used correctly, but only for short segments, not for entire songs like 'Dimmu Borgir'. Its all a matter of opinion, and I think excessive keyboards steals from the guitar. My favorite song from this CD would have to be the epic "Singer of Strange Songs". The blasting by Frost is inhuman. It sounds to me like he doesn't use triggers either, except for maybe on the bass drums. The drumming is so expressive and theatrical, and he truly has a unique style. It now seems to me after hearing so many other great death/black metal drummers, that Frost just might be the ultimate blaster. For how fast he goes and for how long he does it, untriggered, and how consistent it sounds, it's truly mind-blowing. It is not all about speed, but when you hear it, you can't help but get an almost adrenaline rush/badass feeling of superiority. This is by far the BEST BLACK METAL OUT RIGHT NOW. "Returning Now With Diabolic Strength And A Vicious Grin In The Face...""

Brutal dealings

J. Holmes | yokohama, japan | 08/12/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"1349 is a new name in the blackened metal field and with the mighty Frost (Satyricon) behind the kit, you know you can expect a serious high quality musical attack. the first song "Chasing Dragons" is a standout track that will grab you by the throat and keep you interested until the songs end. it's fast, heavy, melodic and has alot of interesting changes that will make you want to listen to it again and again. the remainder of the album fares very well in keeping the themes of speed and brutality established by the first song. besides the final track on 'Beyond the Apocalypse', no song ventures into experimental territory or involves keyboards or sampling; which is great if you want just straight thrashy black metal. if i had to make a comparison in sound i would say that 1349 sounds like the songwriting and inventiveness of Emperor crossed with the ugly dirty brutality of Marduk. the production is great, the cover is cool and bleak, and the music is amazing. i love this album more and more each time that i play it. HAIL!"

Douglas Hernandez | 09/04/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The name 1349 refers to the year in which the black plague wiped out a good

percentage of the Norwegian population.Well,they literally wipe out everything in

its path with this release as well,quickly becoming one of the most lethal bands

in the underground black metal circle.Their last cd "Liberation" was the perfect

debut for a band that wanted to make a name for themselves."Beyond the

apocalypse" shows a sense of natural progression.No,there aren't any female

vocals or pointless electronic arrangements...to the contraire,the songwriting has

matured and the compositions are more complex,always maintaining the

brutality intact and the primitiviness up front.The production here is

just as raw as their debut lp.Music like this just wouldn't sound right if

it had a crystal clear production.Frost gives yet another memorable drum

performance,he's definitely one of the most daring drummers today,pushing

the boundaries of extremism.1349 plays true black metal the way they see

fit,and while I still prefer their previous effort,this is definitely

worth getting if you're a fan of extreme music in general.Certainly,this is one of the year's most adrenaline-filled releases.Horns up!

"

Blazing and freezing all in one moment...

Craig Allen Moore | Austin, TX United States | 07/16/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have to admit having bought "Liberation" without hearing anything about this band except for who handled the drumming duties: Frost of Satyricon fame. Truthfully, the first cd did not hold my attention, although it did have a very unique sound/mix. When I read that 1349 had a sophomore release, I was curious but not all that excited based on my take on "Liberation." So after ordering it and listening to it several times, I must say this is not the same caliber of music heard on their debut. It literally blows "Liberation" out of the icy Nordic waters. "Beyond the Apocalypse" is quite possibly the fastest black metal I've ever heard when they shift into blitz-speed, leaving Marduk, Dark Funeral, or even the mighty Emperor in the dust. Of course, the great thing is that this speed is not abused, but thrown in for dynamic when regular blasts seem too slow or monotonous. Frost has really turned up the violence on his drum kit, and his drums are pretty much the star of the show here, with the vocals being the second most prominent instrument. If you're familiar with either Satyr's or Nocturo Culto's(from Darkthrone)vocal stylings, you are very close to what you'll hear here. So where does this leave the guitar/bass work? It's still a little buried and buzzing, but it's been cleaned up a great deal from the previous release, and that great sense of Norwegian dissonant melody is on full display. It's the guitars that mostly enforce the absolute zero feeling of the recording. In a word: frozen. The songwriting is downright catchy throughout the album, with my favorites being "Chasing Dragons," the opener, and "Singer of Strange Songs" with its bass guitar and double bass drum intro. The packaging is nice, with a nod to a few Darkthrone/Mayhem records(meaning it's rather minimal but captures the correct atmosphere). All in all, this is easily one of the best black metal releases I've come across since the great deluge of the mid-90's. Highly recommended for those who miss the greats like Immortal, Emperor, Mayhem, and Ulver who have since passed from this plane, as well as the remaining greats Satyricon, Darkthrone, and even Zyklon. Also recommended to fans of Marduk and speed-for-speed's-sake black metal, as the velocity reached in several places will simply astound."

Cold, bleak, BLACK METAL

Arron G. Warrior | Stillwater, MN USA | 07/14/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album was abslutely worth my moeny-i heard of this band through in interview with satyricon's drummer, Frost, who plays drums for this band. This entire album in uncompromising and brutal, but still retains an icy melodocism like immortal or old emperor-this is the type of album that makes me proud to love true black metal-the sound production is very good, and the overall c-d is GREAT-go out and buy if you like your black metal fast, unforgiving, FREEZING COLD, and pristine."

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	1349 Beyond the Apocalypse Genres: Rock, Metal
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