Mysticum - In the Streams of Inferno (1996/2013)

I'm sure someone out there has already wrote, "Its about time 'In the Streams of Inferno' was re-released," but seriously its about fucking time someone re-released 'In the Streams of Fucking Inferno!'

With a history dating back to '93, Mysticum from Asker, Norway were one of the most avantgarde and adventurous and ultimately influential bands to arise out of the second wave of Norwegian black metal bands. Catching the interest of Mayhem's Euronymous in '93 with their demos, 'Wintermass' & 'Medusa's Tears' plans were quickly made for Deathlike Silence Productions to release the debut, although originally under the title of, 'Where the Raven Flies.' For obvious reasons the album was never released by DSP and a few years would pass before Full Moon Productions took action and unleashed 'In the Streams of Inferno' in '96.

Mysticum in the early 90's

'Industries of Inferno' slowly crawls out the speakers as a rumbling, but quiet ambient tune with light percussion when suddenly 'The Rest' explodes with relentless mechanical percussion, industrial beats, hissing guitars, high pitched shrieking screams and highly atmospheric synths and a mood that could only be described as calamitous. And therein lies Mysticum's appeal, industrial black metal -- they were the first and they are still the best!

As the album continues onwards, songs like 'Kingdom Comes' have odd varying tempos, breaks for brief synth interludes, moments of pure ambiance and even some samples. Of course, all these years later this might not seem especially unique, and I suppose its not, but without this album bands like Blacklodge or Aborym would simply not exist.

Old school cover from '96

Surely more could be said, but in a way its almost impossible to really nail it all on the head with this one. Each song offers up something new or some variation of previous traits and it all unfolds in an absolutely special way that hasn't been touched and dare I say will ever be touched by anyone. Dark, isn't even a word to describe this record, no, its beyond all that, it is its own thing and it really has to be experienced rather than described.

This re-release of course features an entirely different cover artwork, as well the booklet is full of old photos, notes from the band, some lyrics and the whole recording is re-mastered. Additionally two exceptional bonus tracks are added from a compilation and the more recent split with Audiopain. The final bonus being a DVD, which contains the often bootlegged show from Bradford, UK in '96 and a basement show in their hometown, which was their first gig before the European tour in that same year. Bootleg quality, of course, but still fascinating enough.

Eerie, apocalyptic and just plain stunning -- 'In the Streams of Inferno' is surely one of the finest entries in Norwegian black metal and with this ultimate edition being available now you've no excuse to not own it.