Bane Shen

Dissection's Storm of the Light's Bane is the unquestionable high-water mark for one of melodic Scandinavian death metal's founding acts. The last full-length completed before vocalist/guitarist Jon Nödtveidt was convicted of murder (thus ending the career of Dissection), the 1996 offering is combined with the EP Where Dead Angels Lie on this 2002 Nuclear Blast dual release. Storm of the Light's Bane is a frightening and highly accomplished effort. The performances and material are first-rate, perhaps even revolutionary – if such a phrase could be apply to music with such a limited appeal. The five selections from Where Dead Angels Lie aren't anything figuratively or literally new. An unremarkable demo version of the title track is followed by a couple remixes and two new cuts that generally aren't up to the standard set on Storm of Light's Bane.