Immortal - Diabolical Full Moon Mysticism

This legendary band's first album, beginning their notoriety with a selection of absolute classics, including the epic 'The Call of the Wintermoon'. This set down the essential Immortal blueprint which they followed on the next three albums: speed on the edge of self-destruction, razor-sharp guitars which bite to the bone, lyrics which illustrated their own icebound world, and a sense of Northern melody which is completely their own. Bursting with Bathory influence, obviously, but still a classic true Norwegian black metal release. Album Description

Pure evil black metal

The most grim, kvlt black metal album Immortal ever did. Besides Pure Holocaust I would say this is one of the Greatest Immortal albums of all time. For fans of early Emperor (Wrath of the Tyrant), early Gorgoroth and Satyricon (Dark Medeival Times) Personally I really love this album but most people will say they prefer Sons of Northern Darkness. That album is really amazing but its not a evil and black metal as this album. Very raw sound, simplistic playing and Abbath sounds a bit different on this album then he did after it on Pure Holocaust and Battles in the North. Easily a 5 star album. Classic Immortal. True Kvlt Black Metal. January 22, 2008

A Glimpse of Greatness To Come.

When you hear this early Immortal for the first time, you can hear what was to come in the future. As with all Immortal, this release doesn't have one bad song on it. The sound on this one isn't as killer as the later albums, but don't think it's so bad that you listen to it and can't make out anything in the songs. The logo Immortal had in the beginning was better also, and I think the cover of this one was just plain evil looking. No artwork, but Immortal look like they were in the middle of a dark forest near some gothic looking structure right out of a horror movie set in Transylvania. Important for diehard fans to have and also anyone who wants to hear what this great band sounded like in the beginning. January 14, 2007

Diabolical indeed

This is one of the darkest albums I have ever heard. It sounds lke Bathory with a greater emphasis on atmosphere. Speaking of which, I cannot desribe how bleak and opressive the atmosphere of this album is. For me it evokes images of freezing wastelands and furious blizzards.
Immortal are perhaps better known for the sound of later albums such as "Pure Holocaust" and "Battles in the North". Those are excellent albums but "Diabolical Full Moon Mysticism" offers something else entirely. The songs are more epic, with dark unwinding melodies. Acoustic guitar and synth are also used with great effect. There is one particularly fantastic moment in "A Perfect Vision of the Rising Northland" where there is an acoustic interlude followed by a wall of synth and then one of the best guitar solos I have every heard.
One criticism; I am well aware of the production standards of Black Metal from this era. On here it is predictably primitive. There are times on this album when it is quite difficult to actually hear what is going on. Still, I understand that a more polished feel would have sacrificed much of the mood.
I cannot recommend this album enough.
March 7, 2005

one of the best black metal album ever...

Diabolical Fullmoon Mysticism is one of the best black metal album ever...as for all their stuff...Many people seem to don`t like this album but i must say they are stupid.this album is brutal as hell and is full of stormblasting beats that leads you into a travel throughout the evil northland.This is a must have for all immortal and true black metal fan.those who don`t like it...well...i don`t give a crap about you.Diabolical fullmoon is a black metal classic. July 3, 2004

Unmatched for True Black Metal Atmosphere

You can't go wrong with Immortal. Whether it's the unbelievably fast savagery of "Pure Holocaust" and the utterly insane "Battles In The North", or the total mastery of multi-genre metal fundamentals displayed in their more recent albums, there is no other band associated with the original Norweigan scene as consistent or unflaggingly true to the dark Nordic spirit as Abbath & his cohorts. Along with Darkthrone's "Transylvanian Hunger", this album is the definitive masterwork of raw cult black metal, but with different strengths. "Diabolical Fullmoon Mysticism" is much more spacious and atmospheric; a moonlit sculpture garden to Darkthrone's claustrophobic nightmare canvas. It's still primitive and raw as [heck], but haunting acoustic guitar interludes, varied tempos, and a sense of sonic space between the various instruments distinguish it from "Transylvanian Hunger"'s Pollock in blood and ash. There's an indescribable feel captured here that can't be faked, a sense of ancient longing that Immortal will probably never quite duplicate again. May 30, 2002

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