### Sorgsvart: Vikingtid og anarki

#### 21/05/08 || Euthanatos

It’s a shame more people don’t know about one man band Sorgsvart, because Sorg has been releasing quality music for quite some time (even though this is only the second full length, he has released a number of demos) and he is constantly improving his work. While “Fortapt fra Verden i Vakkert Selvmord” was good, “Vikingtid Og Anarki” is even better.

Sorg is one talented fucker, there ain’t no denying it. He plays all instruments, he sings, he praises Norway like the Nazis praised Germany. Hmmm, maybe that wasn’t such a good comparison after all. Anyway, what really enhances Sorgsvart’s viking metal sound is the use of traditional Norwegian folk instruments/elements, making the music a lot richer. According to the official website, among Sorg’s abilities are playing Seliefloyte, Lur, Wunnharpe and sheep bells effects. Yes, sheep bells effects. It says it just like that. Now, you can’t really go wrong with sheep bells effects, so that’s another brownie point right there.

The black metal bombastic epic title track is the opener, 11 minutes long, and it features everything you could want from viking metal, if we can call it that; the raw riffs, the amazing clean vocals, the intricate guitar melodies. And what surprises me the most about this album is the production. For the genre, it’s crystal clear. The same track is revisited next, but an instrumental acoustic (and shortened) version, to soothe your warrior soul. So drink some mead, rape some Christian bitches and relax. “Hedersmann” follows the path of the title track, while “Trøst” is a shorter, although aggressive, instrumental-only track. The longest track, “Bleivikmaen ein Haglandsfaen”, has over 15 minutes and its a masterpiece of ambiance, heaviness, paganism and overall goodness. “Opp Kamerat” is a slower track, begins mostly acoustic, turns Falkenbach eventually, and it’s very pleasing to the ears. “Kråkaviso”, on the other hand, has the funniest of all keyboard intros, but the song itself is pretty good and reminds me of that Storm project from a few years back. A keyboard intro can also be felt in “Underligt Vidunderligt”, and that’s my only beef with Sorgsvart, the taste in keyboards can be iffy in these two final tracks, but nothing that takes away from Sorg’s brilliance.

One of the most entertaining viking/pagan metal albums I’ve heard in a long time.

The cover: Not as ridiculous as the one featured in “Fortapt fra Verden i Vakkert Selvmord”, but still ridiculous, as all covers that having nothing but the band member(s) are. Fuck that.

8 funny Norwegian anarchists out of 10.

- Information
- Released: 2008
- Label: Einheit Produktionen
- Website: www.sorgsvart.net
- Band
- Sorg: everything, but mostly importantly, sheep bells effects

- Tracklist
- 01. Vikingtid Og Anarki
- 02. Vikingtid Og Anarki (Instrumental)
- 03. Hedersmann
- 04. Trøst
- 05. Bleivikmaen ein Haglandsfaen
- 06. Opp Kamerat
- 07. Kråkaviso
- 08. Underligt Vidunderligt