The Historical Plague cover

The Historical Plague

Old Man's Child · 2003

202 min · 43 tracks · black metal

A relentless onslaught of intricate riffs and atmospheric dread, encapsulating the essence of black metal's darker themes.

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Top tracks — play these first

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    King of the Dark Ages — This track exemplifies the album's blend of melodic complexity and dark themes, featuring anthemic choruses combined with fierce guitar work.
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    Funeral, Swords, and Souls — With its haunting melodies and powerful lyrics, this track encapsulates the thematic essence of mortality and despair present throughout the album.
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    My Demonic Figures — This song stands out for its intense energy and lyrical exploration of inner turmoil, showcasing Old Man's Child's signature style of combining darkness with melody.
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    ...Leads to Utopia / The Old Man's Dream — The closing track is a sprawling epic that combines various musical motifs from the album, creating a sense of resolution while maintaining an atmosphere of unease.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

58 /100
Treeline
Higher than 49% of albums we've rated

The album showcases intricate arrangements and thematic depth typical of black metal, but its length affects cohesion.

What we noticed

  • The album features a consistent use of blast beats and tremolo-picked guitar riffs, creating a relentless sonic assault throughout its duration.
  • Many tracks incorporate atmospheric interludes that contrast with the aggressive instrumentation, adding depth to the overall sound.
  • The lyrics explore dark themes and narratives, often reflecting on mortality and existential dread, which are prevalent in black metal.
  • Several tracks exceed five minutes, allowing for extended instrumental passages that develop complex arrangements.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
7/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
5/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. 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

  • intense atmosphere for deep focus
  • extended tracks for patient listeners
  • narrative-driven listening experience
  • dark themes with immersive depth
  • cathartic release through sonic intensity

Maybe skip if you

  • prefer light, upbeat sounds
  • seek quick, standalone tracks

Where this album fits

Career context
Released in 2003, The Historical Plague marks Old Man's Child's fifth studio album, following their notable work with the critically acclaimed album, Vermin. At this point in their career, the band had solidified their presence in the black metal genre, showcasing a mature sound that blends melodic elements with aggressive instrumentation.
Stylistic neighbors
Dimmu Borgir· Emperor· Cradle of Filth

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

Disc 1

  • 1 Demons of the Thorncastle 4:47
  • 2 Swallowed by a Buried One 4:51
  • 3 Born of the Flickering 5:05
  • 4 King of the Dark Ages 5:27
  • 5 Wounds From the Night of Magic 3:28
  • 6 On Through the Desert Storm 4:20
  • 7 Christian Death 4:55
  • 8 Funeral, Swords, and Souls 4:56
  • 9 The Last Chapter 4:42
  • 10 ...Leads to Utopia / The Old Man's Dream 8:44

Disc 2

  • 1 The Millennium King 5:28
  • 2 Behind the Mask 3:58
  • 3 Soul Possessed 4:04
  • 4 My Demonic Figures 3:59
  • 5 Doommaker 3:39
  • 6 My Kingdom Will Come 4:35
  • 7 Return of the Night Creatures 5:36
  • 8 What Malice Embrace 5:13

Disc 3

  • 1 Towards Eternity 5:17
  • 2 The Dream Ghost 3:41
  • 3 Demoniacal Possession 3:31
  • 4 Fall of Man 4:00
  • 5 Captives of Humanity 4:42
  • 6 God of Impiety 5:23
  • 7 My Evil Revelations 3:59
  • 8 Thy Servant 4:46

Disc 4

  • 1 Phantoms of Mortem Tales 5:35
  • 2 Hominis Nocturna 5:22
  • 3 In Black Endless Void 4:27
  • 4 Unholy Vivid Innocence 5:06
  • 5 Passage to Pandemonium 4:13
  • 6 Obscure Divine Manifestation 4:20
  • 7 World Expiration 6:06
  • 8 Into Silence Embrace 5:02

Disc 5

  • 1 Felonies of the Christian Art 5:48
  • 2 Agony of Fallen Grace 4:28
  • 3 Black Seeds on Virgin Soil 4:57
  • 4 In Defiance of Existence 4:56
  • 5 Sacrifice of Vengeance 4:31
  • 6 The Soul Receiver 4:31
  • 7 In Quest of Enigmatic Dreams 0:52
  • 8 The Underworld Domains 4:48
  • 9 Life Deprived 4:49

What to play next

Vermin
Listen next

Vermin

2005
In Defiance of Existence
Go back to

In Defiance of Existence

2003
Full Old Man's Child discography Artists like Old Man's Child
black metal

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata