AVSLUT
"Vanskapt" EP
Independent, 2016.
They say that everyday a Metal band is formed... AVSLUT is a new Black Metal band from Stockholm, Sweden formed sometime this year. They released a 4 tracks "digital" EP a few months ago entitled "Vanskapt".
The style of AVSLUT is more like a Blackish Death Metal with downtunned guitars in the vein of the new Swedish bands like Valkyria, Watain, Trident, etc... and the eternal worship to Dissection in moments can not be absent.
The musicians are skilled (as normally is among the Swedish bands),
great drumming, good guitar riffs and even though the song writting is
good and detailed there is nothing new brought to the table.
Great work in general to be their first delivery into the realms of this i could call "New wave of Swedish Blackish Death Metal". Let's see if these guys can find their own sound in the future.
Listen: https://soundcloud.com/avslut
Points: 3 of 5
SVARTELDER
"Pyres"
Dusktone, 2016
SVARTELDER is a band from Norway formed in 2005. It took 11 years to this "band" to release their album debut called "Pyres".
I strongly believe that everything with the term Black Metal (2nd wave) is already written and composed. Black Metal is very square and is enough to listen to Darkthrone's "Under a Funeral Moon", Burzum's "Det som en gång Var" and Mayhem's "De Mysteriis..." All other influences you may add to the style will end up in a combination and will alter its natural sound.
Svartelder plays apparently Black Metal (as stated in Metal-Archives) but is mostly like a combination a many influences of Thrash, Progressive, and even Depressive Metal. Altogether with a Black Metal sound.
I have to say that i have not been impressed in a long time by an album coming from Norway, at least at the first listening. "Pyres" is extremely well (musicaly) produced and arranged. It is not strange since some members of the band have been active in the Metal scene for many years.
"Pyres" made me remember bands like Tulus, Ved Buens Ende and perhaps Fleurety. The vocals are well done and fits perfect with the atmosphere along the album. The cover art is amazing and match with the musical concept the band is showing here.
If you are looking for something with high quality in songwritting, "Pyres" is for you.
Listen: https://dusktone.bandcamp.com/album/svartelder-pyres-dusk031cd
Points: 4.5 of 5
NIDHÖGGR
"Ragnarök"
Lake of Fire Productions, 2016.
NIDHÖGGR is a new band/project from Falkenberg, Sweden formed in 2013. These guys decided to jump in the train of the old school Black Metal (the second wave!!! according to a guy in Norway).
It is not common to listen or find a Swedish Black Metal band sounding like Norwegian nowdays anymore. Unfortunately is like that with NIDHÖGG. The last time i heard a Swedish band with Norwegian sound was in the 90's with Thornum and their "Dominions of the Eclipse" and The Black with "The priest of Satan".
"Ragnarök" is a mix of all those old records of your favourite Norwegian bands such as Darkthrone, Satyricon, Carpathian Forest, Gehenna, and the list goes on....It seems like these guys are probably not in their 20's which could explain why of the total worship to the 90's sound on this album debut.
Not everything is negative here i have to say. The guys are skilled on their instruments, very solid drumming and guitar riffing. I can not say the same about the vocals since they sound monotonous in some moments, that is a matter of taste of course. The lyrical content seems to not be focused in Satan and is more like Viking tales and stuff.
It is great to find Swedish bands into the old school stuff like NIDHÖGGR because personally i like this sound a lot but If you are looking for something that can offer more originality, creativity, etc... avoid this and keep looking, if is the opposite i suggest you to listen to these solid debut "Ragnarök" (I wonder how many albums and songs are named like that...)
Listen: https://nidhoggr.bandcamp.com/
Points: 3 of 5.
