Satyricon

Now, Diabolical

[4/5] At first, Now, Diabolical doesn’t impress the way Satyricon’s early, more blistering black metal has. Taking its cues from 2002’s Volcano, it’s a midtempo disc, reminiscent more of latter-day Immortal in its monochromatic, head-down forward marching than of, say, the blind fury of classic Mayhem or Darkthrone. Drummer Frost brings plenty of double-bass-pedal rumble, but he rarely erupts into full-on blast beats. Instead, he keeps things at a steady throb, like the Cramps’ Nick Knox playing metal. But gradually, Now, Diabolical reveals its full glory, and it’s frontman Satyr’s riffs that are responsible for it. The relentless guitars are the main attraction here, and while they occasionally become too mechanistic (as on the single, “K.I.N.G.”), the cumulative effect is an irresistible urge to headbang and put fists in the air-and that’s what it’s all about, right? Occasional ornaments (reverby keyboards, dashes of horns) on a few tracks notwithstanding, this is an almost minimalistic, monomaniacal metal record with catchy riffs unlikely ever to reach the ears of potential converts. (CENTURY MEDIA) Phil Freeman