Artist: MARDUK
Album: ROM 5:12 (CD)

Release date: 2007
Media type: CD

'Rom 5:12' is Marduk's tenth album, and again it is a very strong album, but it is also an album filled with some surprises. A surprise to me is the diversity on this album, very strong is the quality of the album. Of course, again a couple of fast tracks can be heard on 'Rom 5:12'. These five fast songs show us again that drummer Emil (whom has left Marduk after the recordings were done) is very talented, and besides that some surprises show up. Check out for example the special effect on the guitar and the guest vocals from ex Marduk shouter Joakim on 'Cold Mouth Prayer'. But it is not just fast on 'Rom 5:12'. Marduk took also some time for three slower, epic-sounding tracks (together almost twenty-four minutes) on this album. These three songs are filled with some slow but effective drums and some firm riffs, and again some surprises can be found. Just check out the well done guest vocals on 'Accuser/Opposer' by Alan from Primordial, or the slow middle part in 'Womb Of Perishableness', it almost sounds like "Marduk goes doom", wow!

'Rom 5:12' is also an album with a special atmosphere. There are a couple of intro's and outros used and during some tracks church choirs, organs and other atmosphere raising sounds can be heard. The highlight here is the song '1651' that only contains some dark, militaristic and church orientated music, completed with dangerous growling by Mortuus. And while we are on the subject Mortuus: boy, what does this man sound furious and fanatic on 'Rom 5:12'! Listen for example to the opener 'The Levelling Dust', it almost sounds like he is choking instead of singing.

Marduk turns out to be still very alive after seventeen years. The line up from 2007 is exploring new frontiers and they did not forget to use their well-respected old values in their music. Because of this 'Rom 5:12' has become a strong and challenging album. It might take a couple times of listening to get used to this album, but after that it really pays of!

TRACKLIST:

01. The Levelling Dust
02. Cold Mouth Prayer
03. Imago Mortis
04. Through The Belly Of Damnation
05. 1651
06. Limbs Of Worship
07. Accuser/ Opposer
08. Vanity Of Vanities
09. Womb Of Perishableness
10. Voices From Avignon

total timing: 00:55:24

LINE-UP:

Vocals: Mortuus
Guitars: Morgan Steinmeyer Hеkansson
Bass: Magnus Devo Andersson
Drums: Emil Dragutinovic

Guests
Joakim Gothberg/ Ex-MARDUK - Guestvocals ("Cold Mouth Prayer")
Alan Averill/ PRIMORDIAL - Guestvocals ("Accuser/ Opposer")