A year later, the band released their second album,
Dionysos ('97), which by many is considered the band's greatest
creation to date. As underlined in its title, the band still remained
in their pagan phase, this time dedicating their album to the god of wine,
breeding, and other hedonistic symbols, who also consists as a symbol
of Man's natural, raw impulses. However, the lyrics do reveal an initial
generation of movement within the band's approach. While their debut album
dealt with personal triumph, on this album the emphasis has passed to
a more racial theme. The band celebrates the creation and greatness of
the whole race (without specifying whether it be the whole Human race
or just particular parts of it), once again declaring their war upon god.
A change is notable on the musical level as well:
although maintaining their loyalty to the Pagan school, the compositions
are a bit more disjointed, less fixed and circular, as if first crevices
are beginning to appear amongst the crystallized bulk of the band's hardy,
determined ideology. More brutal riffs, rhythm shifts and varying musical
elements (which also cause the album to sound more mature and interesting,
impelling the quite enthusiastic critical response) color the previously
dreary stillness.
