Samael

Ceremony of Opposites (Century Media)
by Diane Vinikour

“Am I the son you’ve been waiting for?” Samael proudly proclaims who they answer to. Ceremony of Opposites, the band’s third offering, is an absolute celebration of darkness and all it offers. Superb production finely forges dirty guitars and efficacious drumming with symphonic keyboards and abrasive vocals (how’d you like them adjectives?). Most often rewound is track six “Baphomet’s Throne” which begins almost as a march and turns into a raunchy tempting tease made classy with it’s background orchestra. A truly overpowering collection that pays homage to the almighty tempter. I find myself more and more fascinated by this thing they call “Black Metal.”