Skogen - Svítjod - review
Skogen - Svítjod - review
Tracklist
01. Dighra Dödh02. Häxsabbat (Crimen Laesae Divinae Maiestatis)
03. Midnattens Glimrande Stillhet
04. Begraven [feat. Peter Lindstrom]
05. Vinterriket [feat. Peter Lindstrom]
06. Storm
07. Natthymn
08. Blodörnshämnd
09. Dauðaferð
10. Svítjod
A review by
Troy Killjoy March 08, 2012
Well maybe we just didn't name-drop enough. How about I throw out names like... oh, I don't know, Drautran? Agalloch? Wodensthrone? Kampfar? Maybe the comparison game will give them another chance at "stardom".
Anyway, the music. It's actually pretty damn awesome. The vocals are incredibly spiteful, the overall mood is rather depressive, and the instrumentation is top-notch. These guys don't add anything new to the genre (best described as pagan black metal) but they do the style justice, incorporating a wide variety of acoustic guitar interplay with beautiful haunting melodies. It's no surprise this work is dedicated to fallen comrade Jens Norberg, as a feeling of sorrow pervades the entire album. Songs such as "Midnattens Glimrande Stillhet" and the 11-minute epic "Vinterriket" both do a wonderful job of evoking a strong sense of remorse, and the beautiful piano instrumental ("Dauðaferð") helps calm the listener down after a barrage of negative emotions.
That's not to say this is something non-metal, like a shoegaze or neofolk release. It's still firmly rooted in the soils of black metal, it just happens to be the somewhat ethereal, epic, melodic, atmospheric kind. The "pagan" aspect can be attributed primarily to the clean chants and acoustic passages, which are both executed to perfection here. But there is a bit of an issue with all of this: consistency. This album comes off as something more or less comprised of two completely separate recordings, which is likely due to - as the band puts it - the sporadic recording that took place for over a year.
If you can get past the lengthy tracks, are in the mood for beautifully constructed somber black metal epics, enjoy acoustic solos, dig piano tracks, don't mind clean chants, and love yourself some truly depressive atmosphere: This is the album for you. It will likely disappoint those who are in search of something more direct and aggressive, however.
Rating breakdown
| Performance: | 9 |
| Songwriting: | 8 |
| Originality: | 7 |
| Production: | 9 |
Written on 08.03.2012 by
Written on 08.03.2012 by
I'm total pro; that's what I'm here for. Comments
Comments:
24
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 Posts: 9575 |
Posts: 9575
I actually think I have this album. I need to check when I get home, as this sounds like something I'd love! Nice review.
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Posts: 21306 Written by Boxcar Willy on 08.03.2012 at 21:31 Thanks. I actually posted a song on my wall and linked you for when you get home. 
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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Posts: 9575 Written by Troy Killjoy on 08.03.2012 at 21:38 Thanks for thinking of me bb <3
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Posts: 18615
Shit dude you and writing a lot of stuff I can't keep up! At this rate I won't be done with 2011 by the end of this year 
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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Posts: 21306 Written by X-Ray Rod on 08.03.2012 at 22:03 Just one more 2011 release, I promise. It's from November, so it's not as old as these last three.
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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Posts: 18615 Written by Troy Killjoy on 08.03.2012 at 22:05 I have one more but I think the difference is that my album isn't as exciting and good as the ones you have reviewed so it's more of "I have to do it" kind of review.
---- Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29 Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
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Posts: 21306 Written by scaesura on 09.03.2012 at 04:50 I can get on board with there being a subtle doom vibe. There's a bit of an Austere/Forgotten Tomb feel sometimes.
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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 Posts: 1185 |
Posts: 1185
Well you got me interested! ill check out some of their stuff on the youtubes while ill play some mw3(trolltime) Really diggin the album artwork too. Exactly what i like to capture in my photography, cept its always too damn sunny here:-X
---- pewpew.. gotcha
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Posts: 21306 Written by AngelofDeth on 09.03.2012 at 05:18 Really? I thought you were more of like a death/thrash kind of guy. Oh well, hopefully you enjoy this because it's a pretty awesome piece of work. 
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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Posts: 1185 Written by Troy Killjoy on 09.03.2012 at 05:28 I just started checking out some more BM actually and I already like Epic/melodic/folk type stuff so this looks like it could be good!
---- pewpew.. gotcha
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| Posts: 21306 |
Posts: 21306
I second Aaskereia.
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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Posts: 2800
From the review and the endless name dropping it sounds like there is a lot of variation here, will be checking this soon
---- He who is not bold enough to be stared at from across the abyss is not bold enough to stare into it himself.
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Posts: 7907
Dude...you drop another one?!! Daaaamn!:P The pace at which you're writing needs to be heavily controlled. Already 2 of your albums i need to "check it out". Well, that's really good. that shows you on fire. Keep it up.
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Posts: 1703
Good review, Troy. I think you hit this album right on the head, especially how the production seems scattered. Now that you mention that it IS somewhat inconsistent. It's really great album though and it's about time a review was written for it.
---- Coldgrits
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Posts: 21306 Written by -DC-002- on 10.03.2012 at 01:53 Thanks. It's unfortunate because it's such a minor imperfection but it didn't make me think of it as being significantly worse. Still an awesome record and I definitely look forward to their next release.
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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| !J.O.O.E.!
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Posts: 21306 Written by [user id=4365] on 23.03.2012 at 23:14 Fucking great album, that.
---- "Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something."
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Posts: 702 |
Posts: 702 Written by [user id=4365] on 23.03.2012 at 23:14 No, I hadn't heard it and, after listening to a few tracks on YouTube, I still prefer Skogen. Good, but too straightforward BM for me, if you know what I mean... 
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Posts: 1185 Written by Troy Killjoy on 09.03.2012 at 05:28 Ive been listening to their tracks on youtube and its fuckn awesome! im buying this and Vittra off iTunes rite now..
---- pewpew.. gotcha
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