In the year 1999 Spinefarm decided to release "Best of" album from the legendary Finnish black metal pioneers Beherit, the name which surely is familiar for every self-respecting individual in the scene. Not much could be said from the band itself if one haven't ever heard it but that without doubt it is one of the most unequalled black metal band ever been. The music is mostly incomprehensible rude, harsh, aggressive, ear-raping and beautiful at the same time. Maybe two words is enough to express it briefly: Total Satan.

This output is a collection which concerns every face of Beherit from the early days to ambient material, in its entirety a total of sixteen tracks from deep 'down there'. The album works well, especially those synth parts chosen from albums 'H418ov21.C' (1994) and 'Electric Doom Synthesis' (1995) and a cover song 'War Command' from Blasphemy. In the end of the record there's also material from the band's live performance at Riihimäki in '92 ('Black Arts' & 'Werewolf, Semen and Blood'). Last but not the least, 'Ghost of Death' from 'Seventh Blasphemy' (1990) demo has also found its way to enrich the totality.

I'm not so sure should all of the selected content belong to the 'Best of'-album, especially due some of the real classics like 'Gate of Nanna' and 'Sadomatic Rites' was cut off from the CD release (...luckily that is fixed on the LP version) but doesn't bother too much either. In every rate, this publication is an extensive and comprehensive collection of roars of the beast long time laid to rest. And now some real firm rumours tells about its comeback, yeah right...

Rating: 8 (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Qvestiphilos
11/02/2006 21:57