Dreams Like Deserts
Aura Noir · 1995
39 min · 11 tracks · black metal
A relentless barrage of raw riffs and chaotic rhythms underpins darkly poetic lyrics, creating an unsettling yet captivating atmosphere.
Top tracks — play these first
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The Rape — Opening with a frenzied assault of guitars and drums, this track encapsulates the band's aggressive sound while presenting visceral themes that challenge listeners.
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Dreams Like Deserts — This title track showcases a more melodic approach amidst the chaos, with haunting melodies intertwining with bleak lyrics that reflect existential dread.
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Angel Ripper — With its relentless pacing and darkly vivid imagery, this track stands out for its blend of speed and atmosphere, highlighting Aura Noir's ability to balance aggression with depth.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's raw sound and chaotic structure define its place in black metal, but it has uneven pacing and production quality.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features tracks that maintain a high tempo with aggressive guitar riffs and blast beats, while the second half introduces slower, more atmospheric sections.
- Lyrical themes are consistently dark and poetic, often reflecting existential despair and surreal imagery, which complements the raw musical style.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- relentless sonic assault experience
- dark atmospheric textures throughout
- brief tracks for quick bursts
- haunting vocals that linger
- intense moments of dissonance
Maybe skip if you
- prefer light-hearted sounds
- seek melodic simplicity
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1995, Dreams Like Deserts marked Aura Noir's third studio album, following their influential 1993 debut, Deep Tracts of Hell. At this point in their career, the band was refining their signature sound within the black metal genre, having already established themselves as key players through earlier works and live performances that pushed boundaries.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Darkthrone· Mayhem· Immortal
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Dreams Like Deserts
The song shifts from intense imagery of desolation to moments of eerie calm, creating a jarring contrast that reflects inner turmoil.
This juxtaposition not only enhances the thematic complexity but also illustrates the band's skill in manipulating dynamics to evoke emotional responses.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 The Rape 3:28
- 2 Forlorn Blessing to the Dreamking 3:26
- 3 Dreams Like Deserts 4:59
- 4 Angel Ripper 3:47
- 5 Snake 1:49
- 6 Mirage 2:58
- 7 Deep Tracts of Hell (outtake) 3:09
- 8 Purification of Hell (outtake) 3:02
- 9 Released Damnation (outtake) 4:15
- 10 Broth of Oblivion (outtake) 4:43
- 11 The Tower of Limbs and Fevers 3:20
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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