UMUR
"Dawn of Satan's Millennium" is an EP release by Finnish black/death metal act Beherit. The EP was released through Turbo Music in February 1991 (recorded in October 1990 at Studioala). It succeeds the three demos which Beherit released in 1990 and it´s the band´s first release on a label. It´s also the last Beherit release to feature the original trio lineup, as Demon Fornication (bass, vocals) would leave the band shortly after the release of the EP. Further issues would appear within a short period of time, as Beherit recorded a full-length studio album, which was ready for release in the spring of 1991, but it ended up shelved and didn´t see the light of day until June 2011, when it was released through the Kvlt label. All this because of issues with Turbo Music. Because of the issues with the label Beherit even shortly changed their name to The Lord Diabolus and released the "Down There..." demo in July 1991 under that monicker before changing their name back to Beherit.
Stylistically "Dawn of Satan's Millennium" sheds most of the death metal influences Beherit introduced on the "Demonomancy" demo and although they still shift between snarling aggressive vocals and deeper growling vocals, this EP is a more black metal influenced release than a death metal ditto. Beherit still inhabit the territory between the two styles though, so it´s details which decide which way these early releases swing. What is arguably true is that Beherit play a pretty extreme form of black/death metal which is relentless in its aggression and brutality. It´s fast-paced blasting music built on fast tremelo picking and not a lot of variation, although the music does occasionally feature heavier mid-paced parts. The snarling aggressive vocals sound a bit odd and processed on this release, but it only adds to the extremity of the listening experience. It definitely sounds both evil and demonic, so if that was the goal, Beherit´s aim were true.
Although it´s a savage, raw, and not exactly hi-fi sound production, it´s still the best sounding production Beherit had up until then, and the rawness of the sound production perfectly fits the equally raw and brutal music. Four tracks (one is a dark and atmospheric intro with demonic sounding vocals), and "Dawn of Satan's Millennium" is over before you know it. 11 minutes of early 90s black/death metal for your listening pleasure. A 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating is warranted.