Worship Him

Background and recording

Released on April 1, 1991, Worship Him was the first full length album released by the newly formed Osmose Productions. Vorphalack, Samael's guitarist and singer, described the experience of recording the album with Claude Lander:

Musical style and influences

Samael's initial influences were Slayer, Bathory, Venom and early Possessed, plus NWOBHM acts Motörhead and Iron Maiden. Hellhammer were also hugely inspirational. Vorphalack claims that when he heard Apocalyptic Raids he thought:

Legacy

Terrorizer magazine's first "Black Metal Special" issue recognized Samael as one of the early second wave of black metal bands that were "highly respected, influential and, most importantly, had their own unique sound." Worship Him had a significant impact on the early Norwegian black metal scene. Euronymous of Mayhem was a big supporter of the band. Although he never offered Samael a deal with Deathlike Silence Productions label, Euronymous regretted not releasing Worship Him, which he deemed an outstanding record. Another key figure in the early Norwegian black metal scene, Fenriz of Darkthrone fame, deemed Worship Him as a classic black metal album. The musician included the song "Into the Pentagram" as part of his own The Best of Old-School Black Metal compilation. Fenriz stated in the CD booklet the said song is "Samael's answer to Hellhammer's 'Triumph of Death'". Of Samael's early sound, he said the following:

Decibel magazine inducted Worship Him to their "Hall of Fame" on their #118 issue.

Track listing

1. "Sleep of Death" – 3:45
2. "Worship Him" – 6:30 (Xytraguptor, Vorphalack)
3. "Knowledge of the Ancient Kingdom" – 5:06
4. "Morbid Metal" – 4:56
5. "Rite of Cthulhu" – 2:02
6. "The Black Face" – 3:31
7. "Into the Pentagram" – 6:47
8. "Messenger of the Light" – 2:42
9. "Last Benediction" – 1:23 (Xytraguptor)
10. "The Dark" – 4:29

Personnel

Production