Behexen – Rituale Satanum (2000)

April 26, 2023

I came into Behexen’s music via the Satanic Warmaster split, where they offer some of the best black metal you can hope to hear. Perhaps my expectations were too high then, when finally going back to the debut full length to check it out.

There is, surprisingly, a fair bit of pomp here for such a raw black metal recording, with the intro ritual setting the tone nicely for the screeching horrors that follow it. Musically, the band walk a tightrope between nondiscript and almost threatening to be interesting and weird, with the high-pitched vocal attack setting them apart from others in this field. The production is a bit blurry, but serviceable for the kind of scene we’re talking about.

I dunno, this is far from bad. But, after a few listens, something is still struggling to click with me. If you think this is the coolest shit ever, then I understand, but I don’t think I’d agree with you.