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Svartahrid: Ex inferi

13/02/12 || Charl du Plessis

I first came across these guys whilst watching a recent metal documentary. Really liking many of their tracks, I seriously battled for days to get hold of their stuff. But the effort was worthwhile.

Being the keen researcher and reader I am, we’ll try to steer clear on commenting about most of the non-musical topics related to Svartahrid (as this is mostly what you get when searching for background information on them) In short, the word out is that a certain member of the band decided to visit a crematory, saw a head off a corpse he liked and claimed it for himself to take home. Definitely some pathological potential there if his musical career don’t take off. The point where extreme Black metal and D I Y meet. The legal implications following this gesture were not clear but I must say,very charming for going the extra mile for new stage decorations.

From a musical perspective these guys are true in all sense of the word and despite the little mishaps in the press there is definitely credit where credit is due. Though they breed many elements from their predecessors they still deliver a hard as fuck overall sound. The way true Norwegian black metal should be played. An extraordinary continuation from the next generation of black metal acts to get in line to ensure the music lives on as it was originally intended. In all that’s dark, heavy and controversial, all of that is alive with this release. With almost perfect compositions to all that sounds necro and grim I can honestly find no flaw with the way these guys execute their brand of Black. Cold and to the bone, their execution of tracks will send shivers through the spines of the most devoted christian souls. Real fucking raw metal that eats the shins of your chops.

A very decent production of complex harmonies with the occasional keyboard backing to round off well composed metal riffs. Typically the kind of shit I can listen to for hours without getting bored. It’s a few cuts above the norm of modern underground and badly recorded stuff that frequently swarms the scene nowadays. It’s really continuing the true Scandinavian black metal sound and a production that stands more than proud. Screams are done with conviction rather than pretend, a true evolution from some of the old school bands that originally established this sound. Dark guitar melodies with blistering and welcomed solid drumming all round. Have a listen to the tracks “Blessed by darkness” or “Bastard child” which according to yours truly is as epic and “kvlt” as anything done in the past (if not better)

If you enjoy the likes of Enthroned, Vreid and Limbonic Art, I suggest you give these crazy motherfuckers a listen. If you are not already familiar with Svartahrid and have an extreme liking for “hard as fuck in your face” black metal played in the old vein. Do yourself a favour and devote a few minutes of your life to this album.

True bastards of well executed Black metal. Just lock up your corpses otherwise you might just see them at the next festival (on a fucking stick) I hate calling albums masterpieces but this is as close as it will get for now.
It’s Black Fucking Metal!!

8,5

Information
Released: 2010
Label: Soulseller Records
Website: Svartahrid MySpace
Band
Istar: vocals & guitars
Simen: guitars
Nidgrim: bass
Forn: drums & keyboards

Tracklist
01. Intro
02. Cursed Seeds Of The Nazarene
03. Scale Of Worth
04. Veil Of Lies
05. Ex Inferi
06. March With Us
07. Fire Hate Kill
08. Blessed By Darkness
09. Bastard Child
10. Lake Of Despair
11. Outro

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