Artist: DISSECTION
Album: REBIRTH OF DISSECTION (DVD)

Year: 2006
Media type: DVD

Out of jail, having served his time for a murder conviction, Jon Nodtveidt revived his band that never died, turning in an eviscerating concert for the waiting faithful like he’d never been away. Comments Jon, “It was the first Rebirth Of Dissection concert and the first gig in over seven years. It was also less than one and a half months after my release from prison so it was all really overwhelming. The atmosphere was surreal to say the least.”

Dissection’s history is grand within black metal’s books. Virtually single-handedly upholding the Swedish side, from their Gothenburg base, Dissection was responsible for two of the genre’s shining glories, The Somberlain, issued in 1993, and 1995’s Storm Of The Light’s Bane, pretty much the gold standard for pioneering but well-executed, magnificently constructed black metal of its day. Of note though, Jon tends to takes umbrage with the term black metal: “We call our music ‘Anti-Cosmic Metal of Death.’ Our music and lyrics deal - seriously from a deep personal level - with Anti-Cosmic Satanism and the concept of Death. It’s about Satanism on a personal, religious and philosophical level, and all our lyrics reflect what we stand for 100%. It is not an image as it is with those who call themselves black metal and death metal.”

Exhibiting daunting skill through the arguably blasphemous use of twin leads, Maiden-esque melody, state of the art drumming, and song construction that verged on the Voivodian, Dissection, and to a lesser extent Emperor and Dimmu Borgir, became the band looked upon to raise the intelligence standard for the genre, whatever fine point one wants to put on it. But Dissection were able to achieve their aims while retaining a rank coldness, the seductive but deathly black caw of Nodtveidt cutting through the epic grandeur of the musical backing track, starkly discernible, chilling in its anger and the words it delivered.

Rebirth Of Dissection captures the effect on the faces of the band’s fans. And in front of them, the band’s new and concise and effortlessly capable lineup delivers a dream set list, providing perfect separation of sound, perfect unity of message, visuals clear and visceral. Along with shocking new track “Maha Kali” and the band’s headbanging cover of Tormentor’s basic but loveable “Elizabeth Bathory,” the band delivers crucial Dissection documents such as “Night’s Blood,” “Unhallowed,” “Frozen” and “Soulreaper.” The gorgeous Dissection “ballad” (and personal favourite of Jon’s), “Where Dead Angels Lie” is sequenced perfectly at mid-set, while superlative fan classic “The Somberlain” helps close the set with the concluding “A Land Forlorn.”

All told, the proceedings are evenly split between Somberlain and Storm anthems, and by the rapt reaction of the fans, this was a dark night for the history books. Jon proves himself one of the most talented executors in metal, with respect to pulling off axe madness in conjunction with vocal work. Jon is undoubtedly the focus of the mayhem, with shaved head, plain black t-shirt and ruthless determination to make the labyrinths of these song constructs seem second nature. His band is up to the task, blazing through these songs with near perfection – leads are in luminous synch with Jon when they need to be, and this rhythm section is uncommonly tight despite the difficulty and imposing reputation of the material.

But it is likely that what most people will be talking about on this DVD is the 25 minute interview with Jon. Nodtveidt is extremely reluctant to do interviews, and this rare walk down that thorny path – for, and directly to, the fans - offers a glimpse into the enigmatic intellectual terrain behind the man and his band. If anything, Nodtveidt is at least, by demonstration, humanized and somewhat explained, something Dissection fans have thirsted for, given the band’s dark past.

TRACKLIST:

Intro: At the Fathomless Depths
Nights Blood
Frozen
Maha Kali
Soulreaper
No Dreams Bread In Breathless Sleep
Where Dead Angels Lie
Retribution... Storm of the Lights Bane
Unhallowed
Thorns of Crimson Death
Heavens Damnation
In the Cold Winds of Nowhere
Elizabeth Bathory
The Somberlain
A Land Forlorn


Audio: Stereo, 5.1 Surround, DTS
Video: 4:3 (16:9 Letterbox)

Consert length: 01:30:08
Total Running time: 02:19:06

Extras:
Exclusive 25 minute Interview with Jon Nцdtviedt
Music Video "Starless Aeon"
Photo Gallery