Continuing in that great tradition started by Bathory, Dissection play excellent Swedish black metal. This is their first studio release (after a 1990 demo), and it is a pretty good indicator of the brilliance that is to come on The Somberlain and Storm of the Light's Bane. The songs "Shadows Over a Lost Kingdom" and "Son of the Mourning" are excellent older-school black metal songs with a touch of melodic guitarwork. The guitar playing is clearly Swedish--anyone with the least bit of familiarity could place it. And then the EP closes with a soothing instrumental "Into Infinite Obscurity". All in all, an excellent release. This is available as part of the The Past is Alive compilation.
