Year: 2001
Total Time: 42:57
Label: Massacre

You are kidding me right? The absolute shitty sovereigns of black metal from Germany, go from the indescribable Last Episode (hail!) in the clearly larger Massacre? You’re gonna tell me there’s no difference and I will agree. Everything that put MYSTIC CIRCLE in our hearts for the endless moments of laughter that they gave us with albums-treasures of trash (not thrash) aesthetics in black metal (they are pioneers in that I admit it), like “Infernal Satanic Verses” or “Kriegsgötter II” with the hyper covers-pranks in BATHORY,ACHERON,CELTIC FROST etc.

So, the endless party continues in their new album with  Beelzebub and Ezpharres trying to be as much –low price-  DIMMU BORGIR as they can, the insignia keyboards along with –everything but extreme- heavy riffs and a voice knowing just how many times has to listen to “Enthrone Darkness Triumphant” in order to not be kicked by the manager. Special mention must be given to the recital of the original (yeah yeah, Massacre promotes them as something original) titles like “Spirits In Black”, “Eyes Of Horror” etc. N O  J O K E !! MYSTIC CIRCLE are really doing all the above. And much more.

Of course, today they have left in peace the style of CRADLE OF FILTH (or have you forgotten the ultimate tragic  “Morgenröte” of 1997?) and not offend it. Well, the British are now trendy, why don’t we go to Oslo? And to Oslo they go and little tracks like Helloween-meets-Arcturus they have and games in the fields of “goth” do and everything you want, they have it! Like every circus. What? Not a circus? I must rate them seriously? Ok ….

Rating: 1/10
Editor: Tolis Giovanitis
Translation/Rendering in English: Tasos Varelas
Related Link: MYSTIC CIRCLE – Facebook Page

P.S. The initial publication of this review was in the Greek METAL HAMMER Magazine – Issue 197, May 2001.