ALBUM REVIEW: Psalmtanic - Psalmtanic Verses

PSALMTANIC (Norway)
"Psalmtanic Verses"
(Daarlig Selskap)
Release date: March 31st 2020
Genre: Black metal, death metal, progressive metal, post metal

Links:
Facebook
BandCamp
Spotify

Bergen is located on the south-western coast of Norway, and is the country's second largest city. Most Norwegians think of rain and lousy weather whenever they hear the name, but any dedicated metalhead that walks this globe knows that Bergen has spawned numerous bands that evolved into greats within the genre. Immortal, Borknagar and Enslaved all had their beginnings here, as well as Audrey Horne, Taake and Wardruna, just to mention a few.

In addition to their musical endeavours in the progressive metal quintet Nautilus, Eirik Ramsøy and Matt Weigand have formed their own nucleus of a band, with the intention to further ideas that most likely would not fit into Nautilus' way of artistry. Under the name PSALMTANIC, they have solidified their collective musical visions on four tracks that make up their debut album "Psalmtanic Verses", due for release on March 31st.

According to the band themselves, the album's concept is "to take the most grim and dreary bits from The Book of Psalms and dress them up as metal". Fittingly enough for a bible oriented theme, these four compositions are all rooted within the blacker realms of heavy metal, but also branch out into diverse other subgenres such as progressive and death metal.

To begin with, "Stille! Stille! Jesus Lider" ("Silence! Silence! Jesus Suffers!") starts off as a traditional black metal affair with fast chords and blastbeats. That is, until the harsh vocals mark their presence, and the guitars and drums turn this pitch black picture into a progressive sonic landscape filled with clear, sparkling details. The drum sound is perfect, and the guitars are never excessively distorted, which allows every note to be heard.

Contrasts are many on "Psalmtanic Verses" and appear quickly. Just a minute into the opening track a collage of delayed clean guitars create an atmosphere that would seem unthinkable during the blasting intro, and it already becomes evident that despite the blackened nature of the music, this is going to be a varied and colorful album with a lot of things happening.

"In the Bleak Midwinter" continues the atmospheric element in a way that Coldplay and U2 find favorable, and mixed with cold, genuine Norwegian grimness it becomes the world's blackest pop song.

The atmospheric element becomes a recurring feature on PSALMTANIC's debut. The ten minute long "Jeg Går i Fare Hvor jeg Går" ("I Go in Danger Wheverer I Go") is no exception, with more delayed clean guitars and a slightly chaotic (structurally, of course) drum pattern in a wet, roomy ambience. The verse section is more traditional and yet again a glorious contrast to the almost hypnotizing middle section that also showcases the duo's progressive abilities with a slightly more technical approach.

"Naglet til et Kors på Jorden" ("Nailed to a Cross on Earth") was released as a single already in April last year, and it is another ten minute journey that serves as conclusion to PSALMTANIC's debut album.

What is most impressive about PSALMTANIC is their ability to create little musical journeys that cause at least this listener to find himself lost in dreamlike soundscapes, and at the same time retain presence enough to notice every little detail.

Good music is the kind that gets the listener emotionally involved. I could go on and on, but what's the point?

★★★★★★★★★★

Tracklist:
1. Stille! Stille! Jesus Lider!
2. In the Bleak Midwinter
3. Jeg Går i Fare Hvor Jeg Går
4. Naglet til et Kors på Jorden*

*Added to the Subterranean Noise - 2020 playlist on Spotify.

LINE UP:
Eirik Ramsøy - guitars, bass and vocals
Matt Weigand - guitars, drums, keyboards and backing vocals