It feels like we’re doing a great deal of anniversary mini-features these days, but Scarlet Evil Witching Black, at the very least, is particularly deserving of notice. Released on November 15th, 1995, Necromantia’s second album continues the band gimmick of dual distorted bass guitar arrangements. More importantly, it favors some melodramatic and perhaps overblown composition styles I am personally fond of, and serves as an admirable blueprint for how to effectively and tastefully incorporate symphonic and other relatively “normal” musical elements into extreme metal. Definitely a high point of the Greek black metal scene, and a markedly different experience from not only the better known Norwegian works, but also the midpaced stomp of a Rotting Christ or a Varathron.
Tags: 1995, anniversary, bass guitar, Black Metal, Greek Black Metal, necromantia, scarlet evil witching black
This band seems to have slipped under my radar. I’ll be checking this album out, thanks Gabe.
fuk yieah!! looks like the same cunt that did artwork on the first sepultura !!!
Probably their best album, methinks. Crossing the Fiery Path might have more highlights, but this album is more consistently great (i.e. no five minute saxophone solos over sounds of crickets and water dripping). I sense a lot of the epic melodies of Manilla Road and Cirith Ungol in tracks like Black Mirror.
Haven’t listened to this album in ages. A classic Hellenic black metal record indeed. Might just dig it and give it a spin.