Tracks 1-5 recorded in 1993.
Tracks 6-7 were recorded in 1996.
The first five songs were recorded specifically for Mütiilation's canceled debut album, "Evil: The Gestalt of Abomination", which would have been released on Warmaster Records in 1993.
I got to know about this band and this album through various album review sites and all of the reviews gave this album highest praise. Also the main thing that attracted me was the mention of raw, ultra low production. I had to find a way to get hold of this. Well forget about getting it anywhere except on ebay for 100 dollars minimum, so I downloaded it. Upon hearing the first song 'Suffer The Gestalt' I felt a chill down my spine, the hairs on my arms stand up and butterflies in my stomach all at once, if that's possible. His high pitched screams of pain reminded me of Burzum but with even worse production. Every song in here is a winner, 'To The Memory Of The Dark Countess' has a hypnotic, yet catchy riff that was used also on 'Eternal Empire Of Majesty Death' from the 'Vampires Of Black Imperial Blood' album and 'Melancholy Of Evil Souls' song from the side project 'Satanicum Tenebrae'. The first five songs are from an aborted album in 1993 called 'Evil, The Gestalt Of Abomination' and the last two are from perhaps the 'Vampires...' sessions in 1995.
But one thing that no one mentions is that the last song 'Holocaust In Mourning Dawn (French Version)' was re-recorded because Meyhna'ch didn't get along anymore with previous drummer Krissagrazabeth so he left, but not without having done vocals on that song from the 'Evil' sessions. This song was left out of the 'Remains...' release but can be found in the compilation/rarities album 'Ten Year's Of Depressive Destruction 1992-2002'. That song is titled 'Holocaust In Mourning Dawn (drummer on vocals)' and has the same production as the 1993 sessions from the first 5 songs on 'Remains...'. This in my mind is superior to the 1995 re-recorded version.
The production sounds like it was recorded in an underground hallway, very echo-ey and hollow sounding. Almost has a 'live' feel to it, the last 2 have a more polished, less echo vibe to them and falls slightly short but enjoyable nonetheless. This album was mainly recorded when they were still a 3-piece until the last two when it was perhaps Meyhna'ch and Mordred. The new Mutiilation needs to go to back to this type of production and band members to do drumming and bass duties if we are the ever hear stuff like this again
It will be difficult for Meyhna'ch to ever reproduce the magic and evil constructed on this excellent piece of work. For now, we always have this and 'Vampires...' to remind us of what black metal excellence sounds like.
This is one of the most acclaimed French black metal works, and it is still not acclaimed enough, because Meyh'Nach did one of the most romantic, desperate and bleak masterpieces that the world had.
The beginning, Suffer The Gestalt, did not hook me very much, probably because the following tracks are the true neverending realm of darkness. It is made of a simple depressive riff, mixed with screams and occasional random guitar bursts. To The Memory Of The Dark Countess starts with an horrifyingly simple riff, only two notes, but one of the best riffs that ever existed in black metal, continuing in the same mournful atmosphere. However, Possessed And Immortal is the best track of this album, an excellent epic of darkness with riffs that are varied enough to keep you hypnotised.
The foggy production helped also very much in defining the album, the riffs are almost ethereal, and they do a lethal mix with Meyh'Nach's vocals. By the way, Meyh'Nach was in great form: the vocals are high-pitched and necrotic, and Meyh'Nach occasionally drops a massive low-end death growl. The percussion is very simple, Burzumesque, no Marduk bloodshed here, but anyway not super-doom Nortt style, it is mid-paced and with a bizarre unique sound. The clean guitar interlude, one of Mutiilation's assets, did a fantastic job on Maelstrom Of Evil.
Hails to Meyh'Nach for this masterpiece (and fucks for the masterpieces that followed).
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