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░ ██ ██ Artist: Svipdagr ██ ██
▓ █░░ ■█ Album: Black Verses █■ ░░█
■ █▓▀ █ Year: 2013 █ ▀▓█ ░
█ ▓ Rel. Date: 2016-01-17 ▓ █
▒ ▒ Genre: Black Metal ▒ ▒
█▄ ░ Label: Xtreem Music ░ ▄█
░ █▄ ░ Source: CD ░ ▄█
░ █▓ Type: Album ▓█ ░
▓ █ Quality: VBR, 44.1kHz, Joint Stereo █ ░ ▓
▓ █ █ ░ ▓
▄ ■ ■ ▓ ■
░█ █░ ▀
█ What happened to the days when Norway set the █
█ black metal standards? Almost all main █
█ protagonists have become lame (Dimmu Borgir) or █
█ progressive (Enslaved) û or they left the scene in █
█ different directions like Emperor or Gehennah. █
█ Those who are back from the dead (Immortal) █
█ exactly released one album in the last thirteen █
█ years. A shattering result. So it is good to know █
█ that there are enchanted landscapes where the █
█ scorching hot flame of black metal still keeps █
█ burning - for example Spain. █
█ As easily noticed, Svipdagr carry a Scandinavian █
█ name. Therefore it is just consistent that their █
█ music tends to Scandinavia, too. Especially the █
█ icy cold guitar sound constitutes the bridge █
█ between this album and the former achievements of █
█ Norway's darkest art. The cascading guitar runs █
█ and the distorted voice of ôBlack Verses For Black █
█ Soulsö would have been good arguments for a band █
█ like the formerly glorious Ancient to put this █
█ tune on their raging debut, because as a result of █
█ these stylistic means the song pleasantly reminds █
█ of their early hits. █
█ Funedeim, the vocalist, obviously loves extended █
█ throaty yells as well as unkindly nagging while █
█ the instrumental backing varies the tempo. The █
█ slower parts reveal a pronounced flair for █
█ sinister melodies, the furious outbursts convey █
█ sheer violence. Of particular note is the █
█ well-balanced mixture of instrumental sequences █
█ and parts with vocals. There is no doubt that they █
█ have a talent for convincing songwriting because █
█ they manage to create memorable tracks without █
█ being focussed on simple compositions. It┤s just █
█ unfortunate, that the fifth track presents an █
█ unnecessary silent interlude without any █
█ aggressive parts. But Svipdagr are back on track █
█ immediately. A menacing guitar, accompanied by a █
█ clattering drum, grows louder before it merges █
█ into the rapid "Ego Sum Lux Mundi". The riffs are █
█ outstanding, the galopping double bass aggravates █
█ the tempo and the solo is well embedded. As a █
█ consequence, this tune belongs to the highlights. █
█ In addition to their music, Svipdagr deliver the █
█ whole program of genre-specific atmospheric █
█ extras. Wolves howl, a fire crackles, rain falls, █
█ church bells ring, a seemingly insane nun says a █
█ prayer and her ôfatherö answers - they even █
█ exclusively deliver chirping birds, nobody knows █
█ why. This is almost too much but it is of little █
█ importance and does not hurt the flow of the █
█ album. █
█ In winding up, I really enjoy this full-length, █
█ but I would like to swap the intro, outro and █
█ interlude (track five) for one or two "complete" █
█ songs. This is especially true because most of the █
█ vivid songs are equipped with their own peaceful █
█ intro. Nevertheless, the ambitious Spanish gang █
█ showcases six epic and authentic pieces of unholy █
█ black metal that kindle the desire for more. █
▓ ▓
▒ ▒
░ 1. Black Souls (Intro) 0:58 ░
░ 2. Black Verses for Black Souls 4:04 ░
░ 3. Sacrifice II - A Dead Sentence That 4:47 ░
░ Never Comes ░
░ 4. View Through the Rusty Helm 7:54 ░
░ 5. Infighting, Evocation to Black Metal II 3:50 ░
░ 6. Ego Sum Lux Mundi (I'm the Light of the 6:17 ░
░ World) ░
░ 7. In the Darkness of Faith 6:52 ░
░ 8. Slaves of the Sword Without Edge 6:01 ░
░ 9. Two Shades in the Way (Outro) 3:50 ░
░ 44:33 ░
░ ▒ ▒
▓ █ ░ ▓ ░
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