Though not as mature or polished as later releases, the 1998 debut from German black metal band Agathodaimon is a solid effort that hints at what was later to come as they continued to hone their style. Blacken the Angel is raw and powerful, still featuring orchestral elements alongside their torrent of black metal fury, but the overall feel is not as grand & majestic as on later releases. With some long tracks such as "Tristetea Vehementa" and "Near Dark", the band are able to stretch out into epic territory that recalls Emperor, Satyricon, and Dimmu Borgir, these songs full of icy cold, rapid guitar riffs, raging drum blasts, keys, and ragged black metal vocals. Other highlights include the blistering "Banner of Blasphemy", the doomy death metal track "Ill of an Imaginary Guilt", the blast beat frenzy of "Stingher/Alone", and the symphonic closer "Ribbons/Requiem", a must for lovers of keyboard drenched black metal that features some haunting organ & synth textures alongside the metal bombast.
Metal Minds remaster treatment of this old Nuclear Blast release is up to their usual standards. The sound is excellent, and the package comes housed in a colorful digipack complete with all the original artwork, lyrics, and an essay on the band.
Track Listing
1. Tristetea Vehementa
2. Banner of Blasphemy
3. Near Dark
4. Ill of an Imaginary Guilt
5. Die Nacht des Unwesens
6. Contemplation Song
7. Sfintit Cu Roua Suferintii
8. Stingher/Alone
9. After Dark
10. Ribbons/Requiem
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