Necromantia - Scarlet Evil, Witching Black (1995/2005)

In the past twenty years or so Black metal music has become known for a lot of notorious traits; murder, suicides, church burnings, Satanic worship, Paganism and poor recording qualities (amongst many other things). There’s one other common attribute that black metal is known for and that’s the lack of any sort of vibrant bass guitar work. Even high profile bands like Dimmu Borgir or Emperor have the bass guitar hidden under their maelstroms of speedy guitars, orchestral synths and raging fast drums. However then there is Greece’s legendary Necromantia who defied convention back in mid-90’s with their classic, ‘Scarlet Evil, Witching Black’ album.

Originally released through Osmose Productions fifteen years ago, ‘Scarlet Evil, Witching Black’ was re-released in ’05 through Black Lotus Records with an all new and entirely different cover artwork (look at them boobies, man, haha), booklet layout, re-mastered sound and a Manowar cover song tacked at the end of the album.

So, you may be wondering what’s so special about this release, aren’t ya? Well, Necromantia pulled one of the oddest moves in black metal when they decided to use not one, but two bass guitars, no rhythm guitar at all, and just a few well placed guitar solos here and there. Unique you ask? Yes, very much so, and for those that have craved bass guitar in there black metal this would be a release to track down. The dual bass attack creates a very thick and ultra heavy sound unlike anything else heard in the black metal genre at the time (or even really today). The band’s performance on this album can be only described as avant-garde and that’s certainly not a word I throw around loosely. The sound could be portrayed as some sort of fast to mid-paced black metal with the dual bass guitar assault alongside, orchestral synths, piano, grimly screamed vocals, epic spoken passages and the occasional guitar solo. The album even takes a radical turn away from black metal with a song called, ‘The Arcane Light Of Hecate,’ which blends atmospheric synths with bombastic percussion and jazz (and it’s amazing too).

‘Scarlet Evil, Witching Black is like nothing you’ve ever heard before, because there is nothing else like this. The mood of the album is especially dark and atmospheric, but still hasty, malice filled, epic and dynamic sounding music. Necromantia exists somewhere between the more romantic beautiful side of black metal and the crazed Satanic occult side of the genre, and when mixed with all of the above your ears are treated to something that’s only been done by this band.

Undoubtedly a legendary black metal recording and indeed a must for anyone that craves thoughtful originality in there black metal music.