Firestarter – Review

Firestarter

(Century Media)
by Scott Hefflon

This is the one. Ranging from the roots of this wave of neo-black metal, to the new genre-and-mind-warping madmen, Firestarter could be your foot in the door that, once opened, allows a beautiful darkness into your life. Even the bio (well-written and comprehensive for a change) is powerful, poking fun at the writing style and public misconceptions of a form of music so poetic, so dismal, so primal and furious, it’s absolutely amazing that the reviews of it are so coweringly shallow and fawning. But that’s a topic for another time. Logging in at over 75 minutes, Firestarter (available in stores for $4 or free with a subscription to Lollipop) combines the majestic sweep of disturbing and soaring melodies that transcend description, yet also digs deep into the black heart of the aggression, the brutality, and the horror that is black metal. Enough hype. This is great. Get it. At this price and with this much to offer, the only thing you have to lose is your soul. Pyromaniacs: Emperor, Old Man’s Child, Satyricon, Borknagar, Katatonia, Arcturus, Ophthalamia, Einhererjer, Rotting Christ , Sacramentum, Ulver, Samael, Mayhem, Tiamat, and Opeth.

(1453-A 14th St. Santa Monica, CA 90404)