Meister Mephisto

Meister Mephisto
Studio album by Sturmgeist
Released 24 January 2005
Recorded 2004
Genre Experimental black/thrash metal
Length 46:02
Label Season Of Mist
Producer Terje Refsnes
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 24 January 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]

Track listing

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

Recording Line-Up

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]

Guest vocalists

Trivia

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

Notes

External links