Lawless Darkness
Watain · 2010
79 min · 11 tracks · black metal
A ferocious blend of primal energy and dark atmosphere, where relentless riffs meet haunting melodies in an unyielding black metal landscape.
Top tracks — play these first
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Death's Cold Dark — This track opens the album with an explosive ferocity, setting the tone for the relentless aggression and intricate musicianship that defines Lawless Darkness.
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Wolves Curse — With its haunting melodies and complex structure, Wolves Curse stands out as a centerpiece, showcasing the band's ability to blend brutality with atmospheric depth.
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Total Funeral — This track exemplifies Watain's signature style with its driving rhythm and dark lyrical themes, encapsulating the essence of the album's overall narrative.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Lawless Darkness showcases strong compositions and distinct sound within the black metal genre, maintaining its intensity throughout.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a fast-paced track that features blast beats and tremolo-picked guitar riffs, setting an aggressive tone.
- Each song typically follows a structure of alternating between intense sections and slower, atmospheric passages, creating dynamic contrasts.
- Several tracks incorporate haunting melodies played on guitar, which are layered over the relentless drumming and bass lines.
- The final track ends with a gradual fade-out, leaving a lingering sense of darkness rather than a definitive conclusion.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
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
- ferocious energy for late nights
- haunting melodies for deep focus
- cathartic release at high volume
- immersive journey through darkness
Maybe skip if you
- prefer lighthearted, upbeat tunes
- seek quick, standalone tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on January 1, 2010, Lawless Darkness is Watain's third studio album, following the critically acclaimed Sworn to the Dark. At this point, the band was solidifying their reputation within the black metal scene, having established a distinct sound and theatrical live performances that garnered international attention.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Dissection· Marduk· Dark Funeral
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Death's Cold Dark 5:29
- 2 Malfeitor 6:58
- 3 Reaping Death 5:07
- 4 Four Thrones 6:16
- 5 Wolves Curse 9:12
- 6 Lawless Darkness 6:08
- 7 Total Funeral 6:04
- 8 Hymn to Qayin 5:57
- 9 Kiss of Death 7:45
- 10 Waters of Ain 14:28
- 11 Chains of Death 6:15
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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