### Whirling: Faceless phenomena

#### 25/03/10 || Euthanatos

I have no idea where this band came from (I mean, they’re from Sweden, but you know what I meant), or even how I came to stumble upon their debut album, released just now on February 2010. All I know is I decided to listen to it expecting some trivial and repetitive black metal, and instead I got a fascinating album.

Black metal is pretty far from a description as one could get. The abominable “avant-garde” expression would do it a bit more justice, but a progressive and atmospheric blend of black and dark metal is where you’d neatly fit Whirling.

The guitar sound does reek of black metal, a constant wave of guitars droning through the tracks, with a few melodic patterns on layer upon layer of repetitiveness (but in a good way!), which is the closest thing to musical hypnotism I have come to enjoy. The vocals are mostly clean, somber and deep (but not funeral doom deep, more like Aaron Stainthorpe from My Dying Bride), with occasional harsh vocals from session singer Pär Gustafsson, from Bergraven. And when the rasp, aggressive vocals kick in, it’s pure black metal through and through, very raw and fast, but still very interesting.

Most of the time, though, when only in instrumental mode or with those clean, black magic arts chanting vocals, I couldn’t help but being reminded of Solefald, without the pagan/ethnic feel, naturally. I was also pleasantly remided of Dødheimsgard, there’s something in the vocals that reminds me of them crazy Norwegians, but without all the chaotic insanity.

There isn’t a better term than “atmospheric” for this band/album. It’s very rich, very deep music, perfect for a suicidal session. Or shooting up heroin. Or both. All I know is that for someone who went in expecting nothing, I came out of listening to “Faceless Phenomena” with a whole lot of awesome.

True, Whirling are one of those bizarre black metal acts that strive for privacy and ultra underground mentality, not even divulging their names, but they’ve gained me as a fan already. My only disappointment is that there are only six tracks on “Faceless Phenomena”, the first one being an intro, leaving only 5 songs for our listening pleasure. Please, sir, can I have some more?

The cover: A malign mask over a blank canvas. Badass.

- Information
- Released: 2010
- Label: Eisenwald
- Website: Whirling MySpace
- Band
- AE: strings, vocals
- Pär Gustafsson: harsh vocals
- Johdet: strings
- JM: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Prelude (Intro)
- 02. The Watcher
- 03. Infinity of Ghost’s
- 04. Globe in Sway
- 05. Night After Night
- 06. I Bring