Summary
Ordo Ad Chao is the fourth full-length album by the Norwegian black metal band Mayhem. The album received the Spellemann Award for best heavy metal album on 2 February 2008.[7]
| Ordo Ad Chao | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 23 April 2007 | |||
| Recorded | 13 November – 4 December 2006 | |||
| Studio | Mølla Studio, Gjerstad, Norway | |||
| Genre | Black metal | |||
| Length | 40:46 | |||
| Label | Season of Mist | |||
| Producer | ||||
| Mayhem chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| About.com |   [1] |
| Chronicles of Chaos | 8/10[2] |
| Metal Storm | 9.0/10.0[3] |
| PopMatters | 5/10[4] |
| The Observer | [5] |
| Sputnikmusic | 4.0/5[6] |
Background edit
Ordo Ad Chao is the first album to feature vocalist Attila Csihar since the 1994 debut De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas and the last with Blasphemer before he announced his departure from the band in 2008.
Drummer Hellhammer said that the drum tracks were not equalized and only the bass drums were triggered.[8] He concluded "the production sounds necro as fuck, but that's the way we wanted it – this time. It represents Mayhem today." Indeed, the sound of the album is much rawer than that of any official Mayhem studio release since Deathcrush, with a very bass-heavy mix. Despite that, the album continues the somewhat unorthodox songwriting approach showcased on the band's last two releases, with "Illuminate Eliminate" being the band's second longest song. Despite being a black metal album, it notably features some death metal influences, including the use of grunting vocals. It also has the distinction of being the first Mayhem album with lyrics written by Attila Csihar.
Ordo Ad Chao was released on 23 April 2007. It charted at #12 in Norway, making it the band's highest-charting album yet. There is a version of the album supplied in a metal case that is limited to a production of 3,000.[9]
Track listing edit
All lyrics are written by Attila except "Anti" by Atilla and Blasphemer; all music is composed by Blasphemer
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "A Wise Birthgiver" | 3:30 |
| 2. | "Wall of Water" | 4:40 |
| 3. | "Great Work of Ages" | 3:52 |
| 4. | "Deconsecrate" | 4:07 |
| 5. | "Illuminate Eliminate" | 9:40 |
| 6. | "Psychic Horns" | 6:32 |
| 7. | "Key to the Storms" | 3:52 |
| 8. | "Anti" | 4:33 |
| Total length: | 40:46 | |
Personnel edit
Mayhem
- Attila Csihar – vocals, producer, mastering
- Blasphemer – guitar, bass guitar, backing vocals
- Hellhammer – drums
- Necrobutcher – bass guitar
Additional personnel
- Knut Valle – engineer, mixing
- Kim Sølve, Trine Paulsen – artwork, photography
Charts edit
| Chart (2007) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[10] | 57 |
| Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[11] | 12 |
References edit
- ^ Bowar, Chad. "Ordo Ad Chao review". About.com. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 18 April 2010.
- ^ Montague, James. "CoC: Mayhem - Ordo Ad Chao: Review". Chronicles of Chaos. 21 May 2007. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
- ^ Lucas (10 April 2007). "Mayhem - Ordo Ad Chao review". Metal Storm. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
- ^ Blackie, Andrew (20 June 2007). "Mayhem: Ordo Ad Chao < Reviews". PopMatters. Retrieved 29 August 2009.
- ^ Campion, Chris (22 April 2007). "Mayhem, Ordo ad Chao". The Observer. Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 29 August 2009.
- ^ AngelofDeath (4 May 2010). "Mayhem - Ordo ad Chao (album review )". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
- ^ Nordseth, Pål (2 February 2008). "Vet ikke om vi gir ut flere plater". Kjendis.no (in Norwegian). DB Medialab AS. Archived from the original on 20 November 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2009.
- ^ New Mayhem Song!!! thread, Extremedrumming.net. January 24, 2007.
- ^ "MAYHEM's 'Ordo Ad Chao' Enters Norwegian Chart At No. 12 thread Archived 2007-04-27 at the Wayback Machine, Roadrunnerrecords.com, 24 April 2007.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Mayhem – Ordo Ad Chao". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 7, 2021.
- ^ "Norwegian charts portal". Retrieved 27 November 2011.