Meister Mephisto

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Meister Mephisto
Meister Mephisto cover
Studio album by Sturmgeist
Released January 24, 2005
Recorded 2004
Genre Experimental black/thrash metal
Length 46:02
Label Season Of Mist
Producer Terje Refsnes
Professional reviews
  • The Metal Observer 7.5/10 stars link
  • Nocturnal Horde 7/10 stars link
  • In Music We Trust (favourable) link
  • Ear Candy Magazine 3/5 stars link
  • Antenna.nu 8/10 stars link
Sturmgeist chronology
Meister Mephisto
(2005)		 Über
(2006)

Meister Mephisto is the first full-length album by Norwegian experimental black/thrash band Sturmgeist, the, then solo, project of Cornelius Jakhelln. It was released on January 24, 2005. It is the 94th release by French record label, Season Of Mist.[1] A live drummer was originally planned to be involved with the recording, but Jakhelln wound up programming the drums instead[2], making Meister Mephisto the first time Jakhelln released an album that was an individual effort after being a professional musician since 1995. In an interview for Nocturnal Horde, Jakhelln stated that the music on the album was influenced by living for a month in Weimar, Germany.[3] In a press release for Blabbermouth.net Jakhelln stated "it is no coincidence if Meister Mephisto has Germanic culture as its scene and source.[4] In support of the album, Jakhelln garnered support from various Norwegian musicians, including drummer, Asgeir Mickelson of Borknagar and Spiral Architect fame[5], and went on a European tour with Season of Mist label mates, Carpathian Forest.[6]

Contents

[edit] Track listing

  1. "Ragnarok" – 3:50
  2. "Shock & Awe" – 4:15
  3. "Erlkönig" – 5:06
  4. "Army Of Odin (Harsfjord)" – 7:18
  5. "Master Hunter" – 4:31
  6. "Rattenfänger" – 8:13
  7. "Grimmer Than Ugly" – 4:48
  8. "Walpurgisnacht" – 3:25
  9. "Satz - Die Flamme, Satz - Meister Mephisto" – 4:36

[edit] Recording Line-Up

  • Sturmgeist (Cornelius Jakhelln) (Solefald) - Propaganda voices, martial instruments, all science & technology. The music and lyrics of Meister Mephisto all composed, performed and written by Sturmgeist.

[edit] Lyrical notes

Farther on in the Nocturnal Horde interview, Jakhelln went on to describe briefly the lyrics and concepts between each track on the album:

"Ragnarok: A poem about the end of the world, from my poetry book "Yggdraliv".

Shock And Awe: A song about the invasion of Iraq. It turned out in favour of the victims of the bombings when I wrote it, as I felt bad about the civilians involved. Still, the songs aim at capturing some of the tremor et stupor of such a massive military operation.

Erlkönig: One of Goethe's most famous ballads, sung and whispered in a dark forest ambience. A father rides with his young son through the forest, and the son is killed by an elf.

Army Of Odin (Hafrsfjord): Battle action from Hafrsfjord!

Master Hunter: A hymn to Jägermeister. I write about a giant cat in Schwarzwald, who hunts down hunters, and force-feed them Jägermeister!

Rattenfänger: This tells about the Rat Chaser, who seduces women and sing for gold!

Grimmer Than Ugly: A Western song, with epic landscapes and men who would kill for brandy or gold!

Walpurgisnacht: I love this song cycle. It talks about the pagan Druids celebrating the Night of Spring, with a mock attack on a Christian village. There is nothing more German on "Meister Mephisto" than these songs. "[7]

[edit] Guest vocalists

[edit] Trivia

The album's cover art is a parody of the Jägermeister label.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ "Season Of Mist - Catalogue"
  2. ^ "Nocturnal Horde - Aug 2005 - Sturmgeist" August 24, 2007.
  3. ^ "Nocturnal Horde - Aug 2005 - Sturmgeist" August 24, 2007.
  4. ^ "Blabbermouth.net - March 2005 - SOLEFALD Mainman Explains STURMGEIST Project" March 8, 2005.
  5. ^ "Spiral Architect official website - Jan 2005 - News update" January 24, 2007
  6. ^ "Antenna.nu - 2004 - Cornelius Jakhelln interview" 2004.
  7. ^ "Nocturnal Horde - Aug 2005 - Sturmgeist" August 24, 2007.

[edit] External links