2003 reissue of the German black metal band's 2001 album features eight tracks & a 20-page booklet with song lyrics & full color photos. Massacre.
CD Reviews
Who needs Norway ?
Fabian Schübner | Mannheim, Germany | 10/24/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Mystic Circle is Germany's best Black Metal band , though the description "Black Metal" alone really doesn't match the entire style of the Ludwigshafen satanic circle . They are playing most of the songs in traditional northern style ( blastbeats ) but when it comes to solos , you will immediately notice their love for bands like Iron Maiden , Krokus and Priest .
In conclusion : Their music could be best described as Cradle of Filth meets 80s . The only referrence to the British superstars is the use of keyboards , but Mystic Circle have managed to use them in a not annoying way . You will mostly hear Synthie strings and choirs . I would always prefer Mystic Circle to pop black metal bands like CoF and Dimmu Borgir , because they keep the heritage alive , but they are still brave enough to approach different influences"
Satanic? Yes. Crappy? NOOOOOOOOO
djhexane | Ohio, USofA | 10/14/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Anything that Sarah Jezebel Deva has backround in is awesome. Plus the vocals aren't horrible like Cradle of Filth (which I still like at times). Go buy it now."
BRUTAL
Dark Fortress | 12/18/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Mystic Circle is definitley the best Black Metal band up-to-date. How they manage the keyboards is just unbelieveable, they give Black Metal a new name. They are dfinitley Germany's best. If your into bands like Cradle of Filth, Dimmu Borgir and Deicide, you will LOVE Mystic Circle. Their lyrics are so amazing, you can just feel their hatred for christianity once you hear the first line of vocals. Definitley a MUST HAVE.
10/10"
Symphonic Black Metal !!
A. Vera | Sacramento, CA United States | 05/11/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Mystic Circle use keyboards to the very edge of too much, but they surprisingly do not cross the line. This is Symphonic Black Metal to the extreme. They do not sound like any other band that I can recall. I've read that many people and critics say they sound like Dimmu and Cradle. I've also heard they are considered posers in the Black Metal scene. Let me just say that MC do not sound like either one of those respected bands, as for being posers, I really don't care either way. They have their own sound and it's a very beautiful sound indeed. The melodies are very hypnotic! When they get going, MC play extremely fast and then just dive right into slow symphonic passages. I really like the strong vocals on this release. I have to add that the pictures of the band are quite funny. You have to see them to understand the ridiculousness of these photos. They are actually pretty entertaining. They just might be worse than Immortal (At The Heart of Winter). Pictures aside, this is a quality MC release and gets 5 Black Metal stars."
Track Listings (8) - Disc #1