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

SINGLE REVIEW: Dreamslain - He Who Rises in Force

DREAMSLAIN (Norway)
"He Who Rises In Force"
(Under the Bridge Music)
Release date:
December 13th 2019 (BandCamp)
January 31st 2020 (Streaming)

Genre: Melodic death metal, extreme metal, horror metal

Links:
Facebook
BandCamp
Instagram
Spotify
YouTube

DREAMSLAIN are a three piece band located in Tromsø, far north in Norway. This year marks the tenth anniversary since the formation of the band, when drummer Daniel Figenschou joined frontman and guitarist Igor Jakobsen to breathe new life into his previously written material. The duo remained constant until keyboardist Anna Loppacher joined in 2013, after which the trio has kept writing and producing their own material. Their efforts have resulted in a handful of singles, as well as the 2018 EP "Tales of War", and it is with their most recent single in mind that we now dive into DREAMSLAIN and their sound.

"He Who Rises in Force" is a self produced, nine minute epic track that contains all the familiar characteristics that DREAMSLAIN already have made their own on their previous endeavours. According to the band themselves, they share an affinity for Scandinavian extreme metal, and this brand new single certainly thrives very well within the same category. The track has a vast variety in tempo and structure, and doesn't feel as lengthy as it actually is.

One factor that helps DREAMSLAIN create a fairly unique sound is their use of church organ, which helps add a sinister atmosphere to the band's expression. In essence, a very dark and epic track in terms of riffs and melody, but keyboardist Loppacher and her church organ create an eerie layer of horror that indeed complements Jakobsen's guitars and Figenschou's intensive drumming.

DREAMSLAIN are said to be recording their first full length, and their two most recent singles ("Ownership Denied" and "He Who Rises in Force") are both products from these sessions.

"He Who Rises in Force" is available for a price of your own choosing on their BandCamp page, so there is no reason why you shouldn't head over there right now and check it out.

★★★★★★★★☆☆

LINE UP:
Igor Jakobsen - vocals and guitars
Anna Loppacher - keyboards, bass pedals and backing vocals
Daniel Paulsen Figenschou - drums and backing vocals

ALBUM REVIEW: Orm - Ir

ORM (Denmark)
"Ir"
(Indisciplinarian)
Release date: August 30th 2019
Genre: Atmospheric black metal, blackened death metal
Links:
BandCamp
Facebook
Album pre-order

From Copenhagen, Denmark, close to the north-eastern border of the Zealand (or Sjælland) peninsula, comes ORM. Not a lot of biographical information was given me about the band, but I would guess they were formed around 2013-2014. Their first album, the self-titled debut was released in the spring of 2017, and now we are only a few weeks away from being handed their sophomore effort, simply entitled "Ir".

The debut was a fresh gust of cold black wind. In essence a pure black metal record all the way through, but already during the opening track "Blood of your Blood" it became clear that we were having to do with a band that is a lot more, and that they have the ability to write high quality material, full of textures, atmosphere and variety.

With such a promising debut, I am sure this four piece ensemble felt the pressure to make a follow-up that could exceed their first album.

To put it short, "Ir" is a majestic piece of black musical art. It is a two track album, "Klippens Lyse Hal" ("The Light Hall of the Cliff") and "Bær Solen Ud" (Carry Out the Sun), clocking in at 23 and 24 minutes respectively. So if you're still wondering if ORM managed to exceed their debut, the answer is yes.

As was the case on their self-titled debut, the opening seconds tell us that this is already something monumental. "Klippens Lyse Hal" brings us more of the melodic riffs that seem to already be part of ORM's trademark, and they have a very distinct Norse and viking type of feel. The track is very varied and rich in contrasts, but never loses its ambient and mystical effect.

"Bær Solen Ud" has a lengthy acoustic intro that allows you to enjoy the calmer aspects of Scandinavian musical heritage. Eventualy it develops into a slightly different experience than "Klippens Lyse Hal" was, as the band turns to a more technical approach. In shorter sections it's even pure thrash, in other doom/sludge. Quite the colorful track, albeit somewhat different.

Apparently, bands from Northern Europe and Scandinavia have their own way of creating melodic, mystical and atmospheric metal. Vintersorg is maybe the most prominent one among the Swedish acts within the genre, and after the release of "Ir" on August 30th I expect ORM to be considered the same way.

★★★★★★★★★★

ORM:
Simon Sonne Andersen - guitar and vocals
Theis Wilmer Poulsen - guitar and vocals
Troels Cort Nielsen - bass
Adam Schønemann - drums

Tracklist:
1. Klippens Lyse Hal (The Light Hall of the Cliff)
2. Bær Solen Ud (Carry Out the Sun)

ALBUM REVIEW: Haiduk - Exomancer

HAIDUK (Canada)
"Exomancer"
(Independent)
Release date: October 17th 2018
Genre: Blackened death metal, thrash metal
Links:
Bandcamp
Facebook
Youtube
Webpage

HAIDUK is a one man project from Calgary, Canada, and it is the brainchild of Luka Milojica, who founded the project in 2010. He released the "Plagueswept" demo the same year, and 2018 saw the release of HAIDUK's third full length album.

"Exomancer" has been out for about ten months, and has harvested a vast amount of praise from various zines, sites and blogs such as this one, has sold albums worldwide and appeared on diverse compilations and radio stations.

The album is ten tracks strong, but only clocks in at half an hour in length. The album is very intense all the way through, from the opening riffs of "Death Portent" throughout "Crypternity, which concludes the album half an hour later, there is nothing but fast, piercing riffs and technical guitar work that sum up to a total of black, shattering, infernal brutality. There are hints of Slayer and Cryptopsy, Deicide, Crest of Darkness and Mayhem, and it's all done with a devastating intensity that leaves listeners such as yours truly a little stunned.

Milojica is a technically skilled musician, and creates complex imageries with his arrangements. Somehow I am reminded by the guitar work that Rune Eriksen on Mayhem's "Grand Declaration of War" twenty years back. Fast, intense, and colorful in all its blackness, which also is a suitable description for HAIDUK's third full length.

★★★★★★★☆☆☆

Tracklist
1. Death Portent                                 
2. Unsummon                                       
3. Evil Art                                               
4. Subverse                                           
5. Icevoid Nemesis                               
6. Doom Seer                                       
7. Pulsar                                               
8. Blood Ripple                                     
9. Once Flesh                                       
10. Crypternity         

HAIDUK:
Luka Milojica - vocals, guitars, drum programming, mix/mastering