DARK FUNERAL 'A Beast To Praise'

DARK FUNERAL
A Beast To Praise
Century Media

There have been many live albums put out by some bands that helped boost their notoriety and included in the conversation of a band’s “best of” releases. KISS’ “Alive!”, MOTORHEAD’s “No Sleep ‘Til Hammersmith”, IRON MAIDEN’s “Live After Death” - just to new a very few. Not every band captures the intensity coming off that stage and especially coming off the crowd on a live concert release, even less if it’s only audio. Sweden’s own Masters of the Dark Arts, DARK FUNERAL have released another effort, adding to their live album repertoire entitled “A Beast To Praise”. The title taken from their last release from 2022, “We Are The Apocalypse”, the very same record that DARK FUNERAL would return to the stage with at home in Sweden to promote the album.

When the world went dark in 2020 and for a couple of years, we didn't realize how much we needed and almost took for granted live music. As “things opened up” and restrictions that were set on people got ignored or lifted, many wise and anxious people realized that not only does live music need to return but the social gathering of anti-socials, misfits and outsiders that look towards this sort of community to feel like they belong - needed to happened again. And in 2022, DARK FUNERAL would feel the same that it was time to open the gates.

With this live album release, 3 videos capturing this epic moment were released. One being the title track from their latest album, another being ‘Nail Them To The Cross’ from “Where Shadows Forever Reign”, and for a powerful 1-2 punch after opening with what has become their standard opener with ‘Unchain My Soul’ from “Where Shadows Forever Reign) only to follow up with the diabolic song ‘The Arrival of Satan’s Empire’ from the album “Diabolis Interium”. These videos helped capture the emotion of this momentous event, seeing the literal fire in the eyes of the fans who waited, longed for live music to return and what better way than to bring forth an album that was developed during the lockdown, a time that fueled so much fire in bands and fans alike.

Other great selections for this concert include more songs promoting the latest album with ‘Leviathan’, ‘When I’m Gone’ and a new favorite of mine, ‘Let The Devil In’. What sounds like one of DARK FUNERAL’s best anthems with ‘Open The Gates’ from “In The Sign…”, another from “Diabolis Interium” with ‘Goddess OF Sodomy’, ‘My Funeral’ from “Angelus Exuro Pro Eternus” and the title tracks from the Albums “Vobiscum Satanas”, “The Secrets Of The Black Arts” and  “Where Shadows Forever Reign”.
So as you can see with 13 songs of hellfire and brimstone, for nearly 70 minutes of pure intensity, DARK FUNERAL and the fans in attendance succeed in bringing forth the emotion on this live album, another hit in the live discography making it one of the best so far in an outstanding legacy of over 30 years. A legacy of many accolades that include a nomination for "Best Metal Album" at the Swedish P3 Guld Awards, a rare moment of mainstream recognition. Another accolade is being recognized as being the first Western Extreme band to tour the Far-East in 2002, setting Japan, Taiwan, and Singapore ablaze. And now recently breaking into the world of cinema with their song "Open the Gates" being featured in the motion picture Psycho Killer, written by Andrew Kevin Walker (Se7en, 8MM). A lot to be proud of for Sweden’s best and “A Beast To Praise” is further proof that the blasphemous banner waved by DARK FUNERAL stands high and mighty.

5.0 Out Of 5.0