Think you've seen the most brutal, punishing, and blasphemous black metal DVD's yet to be released? Well, think again. If you are at all familiar with the black metal scene, you've no doubt heard the story of Gorgoroth's imfamous performance in Krakow, Poland, back in 2004, recorded and filmed for DVD release by Metal Mind Productions. The band decided to go all out and give the cameras and fans their most evil and theatrical show to date, including lit torches, nude male and female models hung up on crucifixes, barbed wire, plenty of blood, and of course decapitated sheep heads impaled and laying around the front of the stage. To say that Gorgoroth set up the perfect live black mass is a severe understatement. After the show, Polish government claimed that the band and producers violated numerous laws regarding desecration of religious beliefs as well as animal cruelty (the band claims the sheep heads were purchased from a local butcher), so the tapes have been help up for close to 4 years. Finally, this show is making its way to DVD. In all honesty, if you can get past the sheer horror of the stage setting, the hour long set by the band is simply stellar on all levels. Playing songs from throughout their discography, this is raw, primal black metal at its most ferocious, the riffs of Infernus (recently forced out of the band after a lengthy court battle with his bandmates) and Apollyon jagged, brutal, and chilling, while the leering, evil presence of singer Gaahl roaming about the stage is enough to send shivers up and down your spine. The vocalist spews out plenty of maniacal screams and growls, yet never says one word to the audience in between songs , instead glares at the fans and cameras with a chilling and icy stare, which at times is a bit unsettling. Musically, the band is on fire, manic blast beats hammering throughout every track, classics like "Possessed (By Satan)", "Destroyer", "Forces of Satan Storms", and "Incipit Satan" just pummeling the viewer into submission, yet showing a veteran band who are tight as hell and really on top of their game. It's a shame that the problems between Gaahl, bassist King uv Hell, and Infernus would escalate shortly after, with Gaahl and King winning a court battle to get founding member Infernus out of the band and retaining the rights to use the Gorgoroth name.
Included are two songs from the 2000 Full Force Festival, which are of bootleg quality and horrible sound, but worth a look to see a slightly different line-up just a few years prior to the Krakow show. So, if you are ready for some prime Norwegian black metal, along with heaping amounts of blood, sheep heads, crucifictions, fire, and barbed wire, be prepared for the evil incarnate itself in the form of Black Mass Krakow 2004.
Track Listing
1. Procreating Satan
2. Forces of Satan Storms
3. Possessed (by Satan)
4. Bergtrollets Hevn
5. The Rite of Infernal Invocation
6. Profetens Apenbaring
7. Of Ice and Movement…
8. Ødeleggelse og Undergang
9. Blood Stains the Circle
10. Unchain My Heart!!!
11. Revelation of Doom
12. Destroyer
13. Incipit Satan
Bonus video:
Live at With Full Force Festival, Leipzig, 2000 (bootleg)
1. Destroyer
2. Incipit Satan