Black Metal has many faces from the sublime to the ridiculous. All to often the genres non musical escapades have made headlines for all the wrong reasons. It is however many of these such forays with the law and media that has given the scene much of it's impetus and appeal to both bands and fans alike. Whatever you may label many of Black Metal's exponents, it would never however be apathetic or none committed to the cause. It is therefore with dubious eyes that some view Dark Funeral, true believers or imitators ridiculing the whole message of Black Metal?

Whatever your personal opinions, "Attera Totus Sanctus" is eight tracks of pure vicious poison filled metal. Looking beyond the over the top corpse paint and often tongue in cheek imagery, what this forth offering from Dark Funeral gives the listener is by far the most impressive collection of songs the band has to date put their name to. "Attera Totus Sanctus" rages from the first bar of "King Antichrist"; Emperor Magus Caligula spewing forth a torrent of venom and aggression in every Satan spawning lyric. Providing the perfect foil for Lord Ahriman and Chaq Mol hell fuelled guitars.

A crisp and almost perfect production is unquestionably a significant addition to the overall black experience that is "Attera Totus Sanctus", and Bergstrand and Ornkloo's production ensures that despite the speed Dark Funeral approach their music, precision is not lost under a wall of sonic distortion. Dark Funeral are all to often unfairly held up for comparison to the likes of Burzum, Emperor or Dark Throne, and various other Black Metal stalwarts, the band however don't appear to be concerning themselves with this fact. And why should they? "Attera Totus Sanctus" is a breathless 43 minutes of 100% proof Black Metal, very dark and deserves no comparisons. The album should be allowed to stand alone as a brutal, chilling piece of Black Metal. Death to the non believers!