Where black metal usually sounds like the musical equivalent of a wintry blizzard, Necromantia get away with using this warm, full, brooding and ,dare I say it, romantic sound. A sound that hints at the Mediterenean beginnings of this band and is not shy in the including of their heritage in their songs.

A very strong atmosphere stems forth from this album. Nothing of the grimness and coldness, their Norwegian peers are so rightly proud of, can be found here. This is Black Metal in a style that I have never heard any other band perform. It orchestral but not in a Emperor way, it's brutal yet not in a Immortal way, it however a gem in this scene.

The use of two bassguitars (one 4 string and one 8 string which was handcrafted by the bass player) is definite proof that this instruments is indeed perfectly fit for melody as wel as brutal riffing. The use of Keyboard is perfectly timed and not overly dominant. The drums are absolutely brilliant. And the use of an occasional guiater solo is a great addition to the sound.

Songs like Devilskin and The Serpent And The Pentagram are among the best ever written in modern Black Metal.

Lyrically it's all greek mythology and a bit of antichristianity (which is always good of course:-))

In my humble opinion this their very best effort and this level of musical craftmanship was never reached again by the band.