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Sworn - A Journey Told Through Fire review



Reviewer:
8.6

298 users:
8.21
Band: Sworn
Album: A Journey Told Through Fire
Style: Melodic black metal
Release date: June 21, 2023
A review by: AndyMetalFreak


01. A Godless Domain
02. Grand Eclipse
03. Calamity Sea
04. The Forsaken
05. Visions Of Fire
06. Monumental
07. A Journey Told Through Fire

Here's some of the highest standard and most exhilarating meloblack you'll hear this year, brought to you by a band Sworn to take you on A Journey Told Through Fire.

Sworn is a relatively unknown metal act on the seemingly infinite meloblack spectrum, and here, this Bergen-based band, who formed back in 2005, present to us their fourth full-length release to date, A Journey Told Through Fire, following the impressive Dark Stars And Eternity released five years prior. Now, you shouldn't need me to tell you that meloblack has been rapidly saturating itself with bands from far and wide lately, and while there are a few bands that may stand out from the rest, many unfortunately do not. This could be due to the 'all been done before' scenario we so often see happening throughout metal as a whole, and not just with this particular sub-genre. By sticking to traditional stylistic roots, bands often become predictable, and perhaps uninspiring to many listeners, and with there being so many bands springing up on the scene these days, it's generally difficult to keep up, especially when only very few albums truly stand out. Now, let me tell you, Sworn aren't one of those ordinary meloblack bands; this latest release very much sticks out from the crowd.

Although influences from their fellow Scandinavian meloblack forefathers are clearly present in their style (and why should we expect there not to be?), Sworn have also been on a journey of their own, developing a style that goes beyond just simple traditional meloblack. Here, Sworn don't just treat us metalheads to a standard release with the usual ferocious elements influenced by the likes of Dissection, Sacramentum, Necrophobic, and... (you get my drift), they also introduce elements from today's modern day black metal scene, where you'll hear touches of Mgła, Uada, and even Gaerea, through hypnotic rhythms and densely dark atmospheric soundscapes. This is exactly what we have before us now with A Journey Told Through Fire.

The album begins with what I would personally consider to be the best track on the album, "A Godless Domain". This is a lengthy track at just shy of the epic ten-minute mark, one that starts with a slow atmospheric build-up before unleashing a frenzied hellish assault on the listener's eardrums. Through its richly melodic tremolo riffing, furious blast beats, and demonically sinister shrieks, you would be fooled into thinking 'here we go again, another album inspired by the Sweden meloblack scene'; however, the way this song is structured is marvellous, and the riffs are certainly memorable. So, the album is off to a flier, but you now have another forty minutes of devastating, relentless ferocity with supercharged melodic riffing to endure, if you're up for it that is, and if you're a fan of the melodic side of black metal, then you sure as hell should be.

Now, what's fascinating about this album is the chilling atmospheric interludes featured on several tracks, which really help grip the listener's attention, giving the album a journey-like impression, rather than thinking you're having a quick headbanging session. Some of these slower-tempo sections feature some beautifully crafted accoustic passages, especially the impressive acoustic melody on "Grand Eclipse". The tracks are in general quite lengthy, with none of the seven tracks under six minutes in length, but as the riffs are for the most part memorable, and the lead guitar work fascinating, you don't feel said length. You have a genuine melancholic sound through some of the sweeping guitar leads, which give off an almost Finnish melodeath vibe, particularly on the track "The Forsaken". The melodies don't just contain your typical standard meloblack grooves; there's actually a certain hypnotic approach as well, similar to what you get from bands such as Mgła, Non Est Deus and Uada.

A Journey Told Through Fire provides exactly what is required for meloblack, and more. With some great musicianship and excellent songwriting, Sworn have really pulled it out of the bag, and will hopefully set a benchmark for a new wave of melodic black metal for the future to come. Regardless, this is a subgenre that is clearly not going anywhere anytime soon, I can tell you that much.


Rating breakdown
Performance: 9
Songwriting: 9
Originality: 7
Production: 8





Written on 26.06.2023 by Feel free to share your views.


Comments

Comments: 14   Visited by: 192 users
27.06.2023 - 07:42
Rating: 9
AndyMetalFreak
A Nice Guy
Contributor
Written by Shmelevod on 27.06.2023 at 00:38

Great review! Well noted about their interludes. Also, I would mention that very particular cold sound of solo guitar, reminds me of some 80-s sci-fi movies' soundtrack

Thanks, glad you like the review Your right about the solo's, they do kinda have this slight sci-fi sounding effect, which to me sounds very similar to what Vorga has with their release last year.
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27.06.2023 - 13:39
Rating: 8
musclassia
Staff
I'm not quite as enamoured with this album as the prevailing trend towards 9+ scores in the album thread, as there's a couple of tracks that drag it down slightly (The Forsaken in particular has good moments, but I find it a bit awkwardly structured early on and lacking in impact as a result). Still, this is clearly going to be one of the best meloblack albums of the year. I don't actually think it has too much resemblance to the classic Swedish meloblack bands, at least as far as one can while still being within the meloblack genre; perhaps there is on something like Monumental, but the melancholic feel of Calamity Sea is something I wouldn't expect on a Necrophobic or Dissection album. If anything, the melodic guitar leads on Visions Of Fire feel to me like they share more with Finnish melodeath bands like Insomnium
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27.06.2023 - 17:05
Rating: 9
AndyMetalFreak
A Nice Guy
Contributor
Written by musclassia on 27.06.2023 at 13:39

I'm not quite as enamoured with this album as the prevailing trend towards 9+ scores in the album thread, as there's a couple of tracks that drag it down slightly (The Forsaken in particular has good moments, but I find it a bit awkwardly structured early on and lacking in impact as a result). Still, this is clearly going to be one of the best meloblack albums of the year. I don't actually think it has too much resemblance to the classic Swedish meloblack bands, at least as far as one can while still being within the meloblack genre; perhaps there is on something like Monumental, but the melancholic feel of Calamity Sea is something I wouldn't expect on a Necrophobic or Dissection album. If anything, the melodic guitar leads on Visions Of Fire feel to me like they share more with Finnish melodeath bands like Insomnium

Funny you mention the melancholic feel of "Calamity Sea", as I do sense a slight Finnish melodeath approach in sound and structure too. I also can't help but notice a similar structural pattern flow on most tracks, where they begin the with usual ferocious meloblack elements, that are then broken down midway by an atmospheric interlaude, which then leads to a fantastic guitar solo, then ending once again with the meloblack elements. This pattern seems to have become their signature style, one which I really like and think works really well. The opening and closing tracks are also very similar in style and structure, only the difference is the closer doesn't have the atmospheric intro, however, they both contain a very similar riff melody that really sticks out for me. So the structure on each track does kinda sound a wee bit samey, but for me it contains such a delicious flow.
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28.06.2023 - 04:23
Rating: 9
Dream Taster
The Enemy Within
Staff
It's one hell of an album for sure. Thanks for the on-point review!

You truly captured it with the Dissection / Necrophobic + Mgla / Uada comparison.
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28.06.2023 - 08:35
Rating: 9
AndyMetalFreak
A Nice Guy
Contributor
Written by Dream Taster on 28.06.2023 at 04:23

It's one hell of an album for sure. Thanks for the on-point review!

You truly captured it with the Dissection / Necrophobic + Mgla / Uada comparison.

Thanks, it's a great album for sure with so many great influences
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28.06.2023 - 22:38
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
One of the band's... One of the review what should be remembered in end of the year.
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I stand whit Ukraine and Israel. They have right to defend own citizens.

Stormtroopers of Death - "Speak English or Die"

I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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30.06.2023 - 12:55
Cynic Metalhead
Ambrish Saxena
Ok, I discovered this on bandcamp and get on the grip immediately seeing "supported reviews". On my first sitting, it went bonkers.

Then landed here, reading this review reminded me how perfectly you captured the analysis from your lens.

This is my second plowing to this incredible album, it encompasses every ingredients required in mdm.

Great review, Andy.
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30.06.2023 - 14:44
Rating: 9
AndyMetalFreak
A Nice Guy
Contributor
Written by Cynic Metalhead on 30.06.2023 at 12:55

Ok, I discovered this on bandcamp and get on the grip immediately seeing "supported reviews". On my first sitting, it went bonkers.

Then landed here, reading this review reminded me how perfectly you captured the analysis from your lens.

This is my second plowing to this incredible album, it encompasses every ingredients required in mdm.

Great review, Andy.

Thanks very much Your definitely right, it's a fantastic album, one of those mbm album's that has everything I admire about the genre. It's arguably my favorite mbm release in recent years tbh.
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01.07.2023 - 16:07
DarkWingedSoul
Thanks ANDY !
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05.07.2023 - 13:32
Lucifurion
Great review Andy. Signed up to say “good work”. Just found this album today in my suggestions on YouTube and I’m loving every minute of it. Can honestly say that I’ve never had YouTube recommend anything of any value to me whatsoever before this. It’s a fucking great album and I don’t need to analyze the shit out of why, I only need to know if I enjoy it or not. Excellent album and love the review 🤘
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05.07.2023 - 14:13
Rating: 9
AndyMetalFreak
A Nice Guy
Contributor
Written by Lucifurion on 05.07.2023 at 13:32

Great review Andy. Signed up to say “good work”. Just found this album today in my suggestions on YouTube and I’m loving every minute of it. Can honestly say that I’ve never had YouTube recommend anything of any value to me whatsoever before this. It’s a fucking great album and I don’t need to analyze the shit out of why, I only need to know if I enjoy it or not. Excellent album and love the review 🤘

Thanks very much glad you like it This is a truly brilliant album, AOTY so far for me
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05.07.2023 - 14:14
Rating: 9
AndyMetalFreak
A Nice Guy
Contributor
Written by DarkWingedSoul on 01.07.2023 at 16:07

Thanks ANDY !

No problem
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29.07.2023 - 16:25
Rating: 10
metalbrat
Listened to the opening track and fell in love instantly. Then I reached here to read your review. You have described everything perfectly about this intro track. So let me go to the remaining tracks and judging your review, I am pretty sure I am going to like it.
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In the beginning I was made of clay. Then I bit the apple and they changed me to metal 🤘
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29.07.2023 - 19:06
Rating: 9
AndyMetalFreak
A Nice Guy
Contributor
Written by metalbrat on 29.07.2023 at 16:25

Listened to the opening track and fell in love instantly. Then I reached here to read your review. You have described everything perfectly about this intro track. So let me go to the remaining tracks and judging your review, I am pretty sure I am going to like it.

The opening track is fantastic, but there isn't necessarily a weak track on the album imo. Definitely one of the best releases this year I would say.
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