MARDUK - La Grande Danse Macabre
May 13, 2001, 23 years ago
(Century Media)
Any record with song titles such as 'Death Sex Ejaculation' and 'Jesus Christ... Sodomized' reeks of trying too hard. Notoriety will get you places, but only if it's warranted. What Marduk should do is stick to writing songs as opposed to forming an image. After all, songs are more important than half-assed corpse paint. In any case, La Grande Danse Macabre finds Marduk firmly entrenched in the art of writing at-par death metal which threatens to take things to the next level, but never actually does. Slightly disappointing, as it's clear the potential is there for Marduk to waste. When Marduk does decide kick it into high gear, 'Pompa Funebris 1660', 'Bonds of Unholy Matrimony' and the title track are amongst the best on the record. Satisfying only for those who don't get frustrated when listening to a record that could have been so much more. A lesson from Nile is in order.
