This album starts off with “Aura”, and right off the bat, I’m freaking out. I love the soaring guitar tones that are just so nocturnal, so incredibly blackened. Then this one takes off, and it’s a pretty beautiful thing. Dödsrit absolutely has the intensity down, hell, I could see Black Metal purists and fans of bands like Emperor being happy with this sound. But Christoffer also has that epic edge to his sound, as he brings in a sort of majesty that I haven’t heard in a very long time. This track is PUMMELING and explosive, but in a weird way is also catchy and memorable. It’s far from radio friendly, and if you’re new to these genres this is still going to be a lot to handle. But there is a certain catchy edge to this that I can’t say enough amazing things about. Then we have Christoffer’s vocals. Now, we’re talking about a genre built on horrendous, guttural vocals. But Christoffer’s come off so tortured, so pained, it’s actually totally brilliant. This one also has this really fantastic slow passage as well which works on building these guitars. “Aura” just brings me back to such a simpler time for Black Metal, when bands like Alcest and Behemoth meant the world to me. It’s pummeling where it needs to be, triumphant throughout, the production is great, this is just a really decent Black Metal sound. This is the majestic start I needed. This album rolls on with “Ändlösa Ådror”, and the sense of urgency that this album continues to have continues with this very immediate start. I love just how anthemic these soaring guitars come off, it gives us something to really hold on to before the inevitable onslaught of everything else. And sure, it eventually hits hard. Now, the only thing I wasn’t 100% sold on was Christoffer’s vocals on the first track. They were tortured and all, but maybe slightly goofy with certain bars. But here, he bounces back hard with a much more calculating and explosive performance. This one is even more pummeling seemingly, with these rapid-fire riffs and drums. It’s incredible really, and it’s just such a visual sound with some incredible imagery. But like I said with this album’s intro, there are elements here that are absolutely catchy. Not enough for this to be some easily accessible track, but enough to stick with you long after it’s over. And don’t get me started on this incredibly slow passage. It’s a bluesy, slow-paced passage for the ages that strips down everything, and the result is some of the most emotional metal I’ve heard this year. And on top of that, we get this wailing guitar solo that just comes off so pained. I can’t say enough good things about this.
Now, “A Drowning Voice” has a much grimmer, much more abrasive sound right off the bat. If you weren’t into some of the shinier, glossier production earlier, absolutely check this track out. It’s explosive, it’s easily the heaviest track in sight, and absolutely tortured. Outside of that, this track is pretty much business as usual. There are these soaring guitars that fly out over everything, and some breakneck drums that more often than not are just so hard to keep track of. This is such an eventful, wild track that constantly is hitting you with something new, much like the rest of this album. Now, of all of the tracks here, I feel like this is my least favorite. But I still dig so much of this track. The determined riffs are great, and I love some of the vocals in the final 2-minutes or so. But some of the catchier guitar riffs on other tracks are nowhere to be found, and that’s disheartening. But Christoffer continues to bring in these very stripped down, emotional passages that end up setting this project apart. This is still just such a great sound for Black Metal in the current day. Now, as a finale, “Spirit Crusher” is everything I could have asked for and more. This is the most cinematic and vast sounding track yet. It’s just so gigantic sounding right from it’s opening notes, and it doesn’t blast into this one. No, Christoffer actually does a really great job of building this one up slowly. But it leads to this track having an even drearier sound at the end of the day, and when these very muscular guitars do end up popping in, it’s incredible. The vocals are just as pained and fierce, and the entire sound of this track is exactly what I expected to hear looking at this album cover. Eventually, this does once again take off in a big way. But I do feel like this could have been a little more on the epic side. I feel like Christoffer here sort of drifted away from those big soaring guitars that lead to some of the more memorable moments earlier on. But as a finale, this still packs one hell of a punch, from emotional guitar solos to a nocturnal, chilly atmosphere that’s masterful for this genre. And some of the slower moments are just so hypnotic and intense, between those pounding drums and pensive guitars.
Now, “A Drowning Voice” has a much grimmer, much more abrasive sound right off the bat. If you weren’t into some of the shinier, glossier production earlier, absolutely check this track out. It’s explosive, it’s easily the heaviest track in sight, and absolutely tortured. Outside of that, this track is pretty much business as usual. There are these soaring guitars that fly out over everything, and some breakneck drums that more often than not are just so hard to keep track of. This is such an eventful, wild track that constantly is hitting you with something new, much like the rest of this album. Now, of all of the tracks here, I feel like this is my least favorite. But I still dig so much of this track. The determined riffs are great, and I love some of the vocals in the final 2-minutes or so. But some of the catchier guitar riffs on other tracks are nowhere to be found, and that’s disheartening. But Christoffer continues to bring in these very stripped down, emotional passages that end up setting this project apart. This is still just such a great sound for Black Metal in the current day. Now, as a finale, “Spirit Crusher” is everything I could have asked for and more. This is the most cinematic and vast sounding track yet. It’s just so gigantic sounding right from it’s opening notes, and it doesn’t blast into this one. No, Christoffer actually does a really great job of building this one up slowly. But it leads to this track having an even drearier sound at the end of the day, and when these very muscular guitars do end up popping in, it’s incredible. The vocals are just as pained and fierce, and the entire sound of this track is exactly what I expected to hear looking at this album cover. Eventually, this does once again take off in a big way. But I do feel like this could have been a little more on the epic side. I feel like Christoffer here sort of drifted away from those big soaring guitars that lead to some of the more memorable moments earlier on. But as a finale, this still packs one hell of a punch, from emotional guitar solos to a nocturnal, chilly atmosphere that’s masterful for this genre. And some of the slower moments are just so hypnotic and intense, between those pounding drums and pensive guitars.
Rating: 8.4/10
Give A Listen To: “Aura”, “Ändlösa Ådror”, “Spirit Crusher”
Least Favorite Track: “A Drowning Voice” ( if I had to choose, it’s still actually fantastic)
Genre: Black Metal / Blackened Death Metal
Overall Thoughts: Dödsrit has come through with one of the most impressive full-full-length Metal debuts I’ve heard in some time. This is a triumphant, urgent, and gloriously ripping Black Metal album. It’s filled with all of the classic elements of the genre, like soaring guitars, a cinematic atmosphere, and some genuinely tortured vocals. There are also some genuinely bluesy and emotional moments as well, making for a very varied project. But Christoffer brings a certain urgency and energy to the genre that is just so damn refreshing. This isn’t exactly a perfect metal album, but for a first full-length album, I’m very impressed.
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