The only album that I’ve listened to is Fas - Ite, Maledicti, in Ignem Aeternum, and I hated it. I’m posting a short discussion I had with someone about DsO on another forum (with the individual’s username edited out, of course). Bear in mind that I haven’t listened to Si Momentum Requires or Kénôse, which may be more to my liking. Anyway, I’ve heard good things about both
the album and EP, but was put off by their most recent full length.
Coleslaw wrote:
I bought Fas - Ite, Maledicti, in Ignem Aeternum a month ago and it was nearly nearly unlistenable (not to mention the lyrics, which are a bunch of pseudo-intellectual bullshit). I haven’t bothered with any of their other work, so maybe that’s better.
Person X wrote:
Fas... isn’t that good compared to everything which came before it. Before they started getting big with Si Monumentum..., they sounded like better-than-average Darkthrone-type black metal...not mind-blowing or anything, but still pretty good. Kenose is worth checking out as it’s probably the most well-developed and original release featuring their newer approach...also, the lyrics aren’t as messy and incoherent as on Fas.... “Mass Grave Aesthetics” and “Diabolus Absconditus” are good too, but you can only find them on splits and compilations (as far as I know). I’m not looking forward to where they’re going musically, which is a shame since they used to be my favorite band.
Coleslaw wrote:
Well, I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to take a listen to some of their earlier efforts. The problem with Fas... was that it was incredibly monotonous and the guitar work was uninspired wankery (to the point of irritation, really). It’s as if the members of DsO got together one day and said, “Hmmm...what’s the perfect formula for good black metal? Oh, that’s it! Make sure that all the instruments sound as chaotic as possible, throw in some pointless ambient interludes during songs, and write lyrics that don’t mean anything but make us look smart!“
Person X wrote:
I didn’t care for it specifically because it’s rehash city. The “jazzy” interludes were done better on Kenose and in “Diabolus Absconditus." The “ambience” is the same shit they’ve done before. The drumming is the same, just more predictable. The writing used to be interesting and more focused and now, instead of having new ideas, it seems like they’re getting lost in pointless technicality.
I think my intense dislike for DsO has less to do with the music (which I really don’t like anyway) and more to do with the extremely vocal portions of their fanbase, coupled with the fact that the members of DsO come off as pretentious douchebags in their interviews (of which there are apparently only two). Most DsO fans are fine, but the fans that worship the band are incredibly obnoxious; the ones that I’ve encountered apparently think that DsO’s lyrics are the pinnacle of intellectual thought, and are incredibly condescending to those that dislike the band. Oh, and they’re almost always teenagers who decided that other black metal was just too stupid for them, so they moved on to more “intellectual” music like DsO.
For the sake of reference, here are portions of DsO’s interview with The Ajna Offensive (US distro):
Question: Deathspell Omega is a collective entity of minds (or a force), not to be seen as band members/individuals. Why this approach? Can you say that this will remain a firm stance on your part? And, obviously this would mean no live stations, correct?
Answer: ...This being said, we are of course better than most humans, our humility lies on a metaphysical level.
Question: Deathspell Omega is a collective entity of minds (or a force), not to be seen as band members/individuals. Why this approach? Can you say that this will remain a firm stance on your part? And, obviously this would mean no live stations, correct?
Answer: You are right, we do not consider live performances to be suitable, as what Deathspell Omega conveys can not be understood in such a restrictive, purely sensorial, environment.
Question: The new CD is very long, where as the others were of a more digestible length. Do you think this may scare off some listeners?
Answer: You wouldn’t imagine how painful it was for us to give birth to the abomination this album is. If the listener didn’t get to feel any of the anguish we went through -and to remain totally focused for such a long time is not usual nor easy these days anymore -the album would be a failure.
Question:“Si Monumentum Reguires, Circumspice” translates, I believe to: 'If you seek his monument, look around you'. Do you care to explain this title in relation to the cover artwork? Did a band member do the cover art?
Answer: The artwork was done by a certain talented artist, otherwise not linked to the Deathspell Omega fraternity, according to our instructions. I won’t take away any of the metaphysical dimensions of the cover by a restrictive rational analysis, but it is entirely related to the title.
Question: I want to ask what connection the cover has with the lines from 'Sola Fide I', “The heart of a lost angel is in the earth”.
Answer:There’s a strong connection, these few words almost entirely explain the cover, as you have noticed.
I’m not going to bother with general commentary, but I think that it’s interesting to note how DsO completely contradict themselves on the subject of their cover art. They first say that they won’t subject it to a “rational analysis” and then turn around and basically say, “the lyrics to Sola Fide I almost completely explain the cover."
As an aside, this is obviously just my opinion, so if anyone’s thinking about replying with some smart-ass comment then don’t bother.
Also: Shaxul has posted a few times on another forum, and he really hates their guts. I think he just got fed up with their nonsense and decided to leave.
--- We will set out with a fire in our hearts/When this darkness gives way to the dawn/In the light we are united as one/For the kingdom of heaven must be taken by storm!
petrofsky wrote:
yeah, sure the members may be jackasses, but that does not mean their actual music is bad.
Yeah, I know, but I still don’t like the music. To each his own I guess.
--- We will set out with a fire in our hearts/When this darkness gives way to the dawn/In the light we are united as one/For the kingdom of heaven must be taken by storm!
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