### Alverg: Elde

#### 29/06/09 || Khlysty

Well, well, well, what have we got here, then? Alverg is a duo from Norway, founded in 2002, by guitarist-vocalist-lyricist Lóge. Since the formation of the band, Alverg has put forth a demo in 2003, and “Elde”, which is the band’s first full-length, after an almost-four-year hiatus. In their site, they inform the non-Norwegian-speaking masses that their name is a made-up word, combining “Al” (a kind of wood from trees growing in cold and shadowy places) and “Verg” (watcher, protector, caretaker), all of which supposedly signifies a love and protective feelings toward nature.

If I haven’t already made it clear, Midnight Oil this ain’t; Alverg plays a kind of super-trad Norsk Black Metal, with most of the songs starting in a mid-tempo way, before, either: a) keeping it this way for their whole length, or b) changing into some blasting and/or thrashing parts. The guitar sound is your usual buzzing, tremolo-picked trademark of black metal, the vocals take the croaky path, and the drums have lots and lots of cymbal work. The songs are of medium-to-long length (from 5 up to 9-and-a-half minutes) and they don’t display much variation: y’know, one basic riff, some speed and guitar-work embellishment and, generally, that’s it.

Anyway, even if this sounds formulaic, it is still really interesting. That’s because Alverg writes a handful of nice melodies/riffs, full of feeling and ambience. Listening to “Elde” makes me feel as if I’m walking through a Scandinavic forest of almost primordial trees during a hushed, snowbound, bitterly cold winter day. There’s majesty inside those songs, which are helped by the above-average (at least for black metal standards) production, and you can really enjoy them, whether you like black metal or not. Alverg doesn’t break any new ground with “Elde”, but the band’s footing on the known track is sure and confident. This is a good trad black metal record, and if this is not the highest praise I can give it, I don’t know what else to say…

7,5 frostbitten Norsk forests out of 10.

- Information
- Released: 2009
- Label: Soulseller Records
- Website: www.alverg.com
- Band
- Lóge: guitars, vocals
- Heolstor: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Alverg
- 02. Gudsforlatt
- 03. Livets Skygger
- 04. En Pike På Seng Av Hvitt Linne
- 05. Syvfold
- 06. La Meg Fryse
- 07. Smerte
- 08. Svarthammeren
- 09. Towards The Kingdom Of Alverg