Warthur Dropping, for the most part, the industrial affectations the band had taken on with Rebel Extravaganza, Volcano finds Satyricon in a more or less traditional black metal mode, with a notable exception being the pulsating closing epic Black Lava. I was surprised to learn that this was produced by an incredibly stripped down lineup - Frost plays drums and Satyr does just about everything else - because the duo do a really good job of getting across a full band sound without dampening the raw sound that's so crucial to this style of classic-era Norwegian black metal. Not their best, but not an embarrassment to the Satyricon discography by a long stretch.

UMUR "Volcano" is the 5th full-length studio album by Norwegian black metal act Satyricon. The album was released through Moonfog Productions in October 2002. "Volcano" is a bit of a turning point for the band. After releasing what is arguably their most complex and adventurous album in "Rebel Extravaganza (1999)", Satyricon opted for a much simpler songwriting approach on "Volcano".

While the music on the album is still unmistakably the sound of Satyricon, which means fiercely aggressive and commanding raspy vocals, monumentally heavy riffs (and faster sections too) and a dense dark atmosphere, main composer/vocalist/guitarist/bassist/keyboard player Satyr has chosen to incorporate a lot more groove on "Volcano" than heard on any of the earlier material by the band. The songwriting has been stripped down too, which gives most tracks a clear vers/chorus feeling, even though none of them are as simple as that. Tracks like "Fuel for Hatred" and "Possessed" are examples of tracks where the chorus takes on an almost anthemic quality. The former features quite the infectious black´n´roll riff, which is also a new element in Satyricon´s sound.

The musicianship is on a high level all the way through the album. Satyr plays and sings everything besides the drums which are handled by Frost. The latter is one of the most creative black metal drummers out there. While he can certainly whip up a storm when needed, he can also play an infectious groove. The album is positively loaded with great drumming ideas. Frost is one of those few drummers, where you are able to remember his drum patterns. A rare achivement indeed.

In addition to all the above mentioned positive and intriguing elements, "Volcano" also features a raw and powerful sound production, which further enhances the listening experience. "Volcano" is simply through and through a quality release. This is the perfect example of a band, that without losing integrity and without forsaking their "core" sound, are able to successfully develop their music and challenge their audience. While "Volcano" is much easier accessible than the complex "Rebel Extravaganza (1999)", it´s not a less bold statement. A 4 - 4.5 star (85%) rating is deserved.