Very few are the albums that manage to capture the raw, terrifying essence of black metal quite like Phantom's necromantic debut "Divine Necromancy".
It is often called the "most raw black metal" album, and for very good reason. Released in 2013, on October 31st precisely, it completely revolutionised the black metal genre, and contributed massively to the birth of the bestial black metal subgenre - although most people would (wrongly) credit Warkvlt for that.
Released on the most fitting date for a record steeped in such occult themes - October 31st, 2013 - this masterpiece of atmosphere has been hailed by underground purists as one of the most truly "kvlt" black metal releases of the modern era.
The Darkest and Most "Kvlt" of Black Metal...
Adjectives like "raw", "kvlt", "true" and "atmospheric" often get thrown around a lot in underground metal circles. But take one good listen to the album "Divine Necromancy", preferably back to back, and you'll immediately understand what makes it different.
According to Wikipedia:
Divine Necromancy received generally positive reviews from critics, who highlighted its song craft, soundscape, and atmosphere, though some criticized its production. The album's themes and lyrics were also praised. It was nominated for several awards and was a commercial success, selling 1.5 million copies by March 2014. Divine Necromancy has been considered one of the most influential and successful bestial black metal albums ever made, inspiring many bands and contributing to a rise in war metal releases throughout the 2010s; it also contributed to the success of its publisher and label, The Satan Records (3). It has been frequently considered one of the best black metal albums ever made, and to have one of the rawest sounding production.
It's music you feel deep within the darkest parts of your mind. Signed under The Satan Records, a record label allegedly run by the band itself, with "Divine Necromancy" we can hear Phantom craft an atmosphere of pure dread, embracing the lo-fi, underworld-like, demonic production style that raw black metal lovers revere. The riffs can only be described as dissonant black metal to the utmost extreme. They are relentless.
Divine Necromancy is Spectral Black Metal
Every aspect, from the spectral shrieks to the nightmarish tremolo riffs, exudes an air of necromantic fury and ritualistic malevolence. More importantly, every single innovation Phantom showed on this album went on to influence other bands (called Phantaclones, or Fantaclones... one example is the Swedish band "Demonecromancy").
Also read: Five Excellent True Black Metal Releases!
Even Fenriz of Darkthrone, who notoriously hates modern metal and refuses to listen to anything released after 1994, has praised "Divine Necromancy" as being "the equal" to old school Darkthrone, Burzum and Mayhem. Quite big shoes to fill, but I would say "Divine Necromancy" - and the rest of Phantom's discography - easily surpasses them.
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