Ohhh Therion, how you have changed. You might remember the hilarious rivalry between this band and Burzum. Or how they once played down tuned Swedish death metal. Yes, this is a death metal record, and a fairly decent one at that.

It's no Entombed or Dismember, even thought it sounds like the rest of the Swedish scene at the time. There's some slightly better playing around with the instruments though, especially 'Apshyxate with Fear', which often sounds like most modern, black metal influenced Swedish bands. But you'll get the same vocal deliver (with a patented Dismember/Entombed style scream at the end of each line), and the same heavy riffs. A few shining moments, such as 'Morbid Reality', or the almost grindcore styling of 'Megalomaniac' rock, but it's just so Swedish (nothing really changes in regards to complaints against Swedish metal, hmm?).

It's good stuff, but give me 'Clandestine' or 'Like an Everflowing Stream' (or some Swede byrd!) any day over this one!

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