Review of "The Pain of God", taken from metal-observer.com :
The Big Fella upstairs must get mightily miffed from time to time. He creates a world of wonder and sets mankind upon it, gives them a few simple rules to live by and they go and cock it right up. To add insult to injury, after a day at the office He sits down to relax to a bit of Eminence TV and is greeted by band after band banging on about what a groovy guy Satan is and how Hell is the place to be. Well it seems OPUS MAJESTIC seek to redress the balance a little bit.
Reading the lyric sheet, I could be wrong, but it would appear to be obvious that this band are Christians. Nothing wrong in that, I’m not a religious sort myself but would never put down anyone who is, whatever their creed. The irony here is that OPUS MAJESTIC are capable of such an unholy racket. There are further clues in that, at times, the songs here take on a hymn like quality. The tracks last between 9 to 16 minutes and so the band has it all cut out to maintain interest throughout, something they succeed with for the most part.
The general ambience is one of the album being recorded in a cavern (or cathedral perhaps.) The production is simple and lofi but effective nonetheless. The feel is one of a conflict between hope and despair. What would be a fairly depressing sound is uplifted by warm keyboards, the whole oft times reminding of SUMMONING. There is a pastoral mood to “The Pain Of God” which is punctuated by militaristic passages, best exemplified by the drum work. Whilst the pace is mostly slow to mid-paced there are plenty of occasions where OPUS MAJESTIC spur on, racing for the light.
Mention must be made of the guitars which are sootier than a tyre-dump fire and they possess the same radiant heat. In fact the whole album, especially “A New Sun Rises,” has a smoking hearth warmth to it, even the bass rumbles along like a summer storm. For all that don’t imagine “The Pain Of God” to be a pleasant listening affair, the vocals are delivered with an anguished growl, and when they are in top gear, the band pull you along with a finger hooked in each of your nostrils. It’s nice to see that there is a real drummer pounding away here, so many in this part of the Black Metal genre resort to electronics, beating away on real skin really does compliment the strangely uplifting ambience of the bands work. Woven Wind also knows how to be expressive without just pummelling away at his kit.
So, once again, the Americans show us how to make melancholic Black Metal, however OPUS MAJESTIC add a twist. Even without referring to the subject matter, which to be honest is poetic rather than preaching, the band evoke warmth and light as opposed to the more typical cold and dark of the genre. For a religious experience without all the dogma, “The Pain Of God” is a worthy purchase.
1 Corinthians 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
Ephesians 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: 19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 20 But ye have not so learned Christ; 21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil.
Psalm 25:4~6 Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.
2 Timothy 2:1~16 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits. Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself. Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
Galatians 6:12 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. 13 For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh. 14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. 15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. 16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
Hebrews 9:23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: 25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
BOUNCIN' THROUGH TO SHOW YA SOME CHRIST "AGAPE"..BE SURE TO ROLL BY EACH WEEK & CHECK OUT OUR SPOTLITE ARTIST FOR THE WEEK. PEACE & BLESSINGS
ISA 41:10
PHIL 4:13
1 PETER 5
PSALM 27
PSALM 91
EXODUS 14:14
2 Corinthians 5:10~21
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences. For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart. For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Hebrews 12:9-~11
Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
