The Defeat of Satan

Infobox Album
Name = The Defeat of Satan
Type = Compilation album
Artist = Antestor


Released = 2003
Recorded = 1991 and 1993
Genre = Unblack metal Death metal Doom metal Thrash metal
Length = 48:47
Label = Momentum Scandinavia
Producer = Antestor
Reviews = Imperiumi rating-10|8 [http://imperiumi.net/alb_2.php?id=1258 link] The Whipping Post rating-10|8 [http://thewhippingpost.tripod.com/antestorthedefeatofsatan/ link]
Last album = The Return of the Black Death (1998)
This album = The Defeat of Satan (2003)
Next album = Det Tapte Liv (2004)

The Defeat of Satan is an album by the Norwegian unblack metal band Antestor. The album comprises their first two demos "Despair" (1993) and "The Defeat of Satan" (1991). The songs were remastered and remixed in 2003 and was published by the Norwegian label Momentum Scandinavia. The demos on this album are historical since they were one of the few Christian metal releases during the time when the black metal movement was developing significantly and drew media attention with violent actions such as the church burnings.

Recording history

The first part of the album comprises "Despair" demo's songs. Musically, the Despair songs showcase oppressive and sorrowful doom-death similar to that of than 1994's Martyrium, albeit darker in atmosphere. "Despair" was released by Strawberry Records and printed 600 copies of it. The last song on the demo, "Jesus, Jesus Ver Du Hjå Meg" is a cover of an old Norwegian funeral hymn. Kjetil Molnes' vocals are mostly deep, guttural death growls but he does some depressed clean singing. Apart from the folk influenced intro and the funeral hymn the demo features very few keyboards by Lars Stokstad.

"The Defeat of Satan" demo was recorded during time when the band was known as Crush Evil. The material differs from their other releases musically: "The Defeat of Satan" features minimalistic hybrid of thrash metal and death metal with death growl vocals. The songs clock at over 10 minutes in duration. The demo ends with an industrial music type outro titled "Knus Ondskapen".

The lyrical themes on both demos include forces of evil, warning about them, and spiritual warfare against satan. These themes opposed the anti-Christian ideology of the early Norwegian black metal scene; The demos were recorded during the time when black metal was developing its second wave. According to the booklet's liner notes, "The history tells of Antestor being the band who started the whole northern European Christian extreme metal scene. About the time the Norwegian Black Metal Inner Circle was rearing it's ugly head, Antestor was stirring things up by playing extreme metal that spoke of hope in Jesus Christ and the deception of Satan." According to the write-up, "Antestor received serious death threats from some of the major bands and key players in the scene." [Morrow, Matt. [http://thewhippingpost.tripod.com/antestorthedefeatofsatan/ Antestor - The Defeat of Satan] , The Whipping Post. retrieved on 2007-12-02]

The demo material were remixed and remastered in 2003 and the Norwegian label Momentum Scandinavia printed 999 copies of the album.

Personnel

* Martyr (Kjetil Molnes) – vocals
* Armoth (Svein Sander) – drums
* Gard (Vegard Undal) – bass
* Vemod (Lars Stokstad) – guitar, keyboards
* Bjørn Leren – guitar

Track listing

#"Preludium" (0:54)
#"Demonic Seduction" (6:09)
#"Message from Hell" (3:45)
#"Lost Generation" (3:24)
#"Human" (5:03)
#"Jesus, Jesus Ver Du Hjå Meg" (3:16)
#"The Defeat of Satan" (9:04)
#"New Life" (7:37)
#"Jesus Saves" (8:26)
#"Knus Ondskapen" (1:03)

References

External links

* [http://imperiumi.net/alb_2.php?id=1258 Review] at Imperiumi
* [http://thewhippingpost.tripod.com/antestorthedefeatofsatan/ Review] at The Whipping Post
* [http://www.firestream.net/custom/fs_rate.php?go=showitem&item_id=5545&cat_id=146 Album] at Music Vault
* [http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/07/02/143449.php Album] at BlogCritics
* [http://www.metal-archives.com/release.php?id=19694 Album] at Encyclopaedia Metallum