The power, the glory, the might, the swagger. Nope I have not gone mad and started reviewing anything by Manowar it’s time for everyone’s favourite heathen cleavers Kampfar to deliver a new opus and what a magnificent album it is. Founding member Dolk obviously has a bit of a blood red mist in his eyes this time around and the urgency and tension running through ‘Profan’ is nothing short of victorious. This is the sound of a band on fire and not willing to take any prisoners as they fly down an unswerving and steadfast path bringing their fans another exercise in pure Norsk Svart Metal, one that is still being delivered in the spirit it originally was with debut album ‘Mellom skogkledde aaser’ back in 1997. Profan immediately struck me in the same way as their magnificent ‘Kvass,’ it’s one of those album’s that they have been leading up to for a while. There’s nothing wrong with the ones that came out in between and they have all given us a hefty and formidable clout with the axe right between the eyes but this one is just one sturdy blow that cleanly takes the head off from the neck with one very clean blow.
‘Gloria Ablaze’ is borne on a mischievous cackle sounding like it has come out of the bowels of an evil troll before the track literally explodes with fire lyrically at its heart and sets things well and truly ablaze. Swaggering is just what this does, romping off and grooving on down to a lead-heavy mid-paced stomp with an absolutely glorious chorus about it full of passion and might. It’s almost enough to stop your breath and one of the most memorable declarations from the band in many a year. With loud booming rugged shouts from the backing vocals it’s the sound of a band marching off to war and destroying all in their path. One listen to this opener and I guarantee you will be sold and find yourself addicted and unable to stop playing it. The belly of the beast is well and truly aflame. ‘Profanum’ continues the charge giddily romping off with some complex sharp and churning riffs scything away before another potent and venomous explosion from the drums surges ever faster with Dolks rasps spitting fire over the top. It’s another battle charge, volatile and dangerous moving on to a gloomy part where tools are downed allowing you to soak up the atmospheric scent of spilled blood before a final distempered flourish.
The seven tracks are perfectly honed and are just the right length allowing them to breathe and get their claws in before parting ways to allow the next one to take their place. It’s one of those no ounce of flesh shall be spared albums. ‘Icons’ has one of those orchestral parts that sound so otherworldly at its start before absolutely smashing the gauntlet down via clattering snare and tearing off. Low chants like spirits of the dead are present in the backdrop giving it a real sense of austerity as the guitar riffs spikily bristle their way through things. Dolk lets out a fetid death grunt and everything here is full of fist slamming bravado. The climactic bashing the brains in welter at the end of this is enough to knock you off your feet. ‘Skavank’ has some fantastic bouncing parts to it that are going to be great for jumping around to and spilling beer in the pit and it’s a song that has quite a few tempo changes within it giving you pretty much the best of everything on offer. The band have just unleashed their first official music video for the track ‘Daimon.’ Old fans will be pleased that it starts with the sound of the didgeridoo once more and the grand piano that has cropped up more recently is also an integral part of the song with a tenacious two note clamour riding away through the number. This one is part grandiose and then absolutely venomous with a a crooned out chorus reaching right up to the gods; magnificent stuff!
The one thing I have not seen in the lead up to this album release is any mention of themes or narrative behind it; so for the moment can only guess. The oddly entitled Pole In The Ground is hammered into place with some hefty drumming and the vocal anger is taken to new levels as Dolk snarls giving me a sore throat just listening to him. This one’s particularly savage and it has the feel of a band getting all unhinged and just completely going for it. Naturally around the half way mark with a sliding guitar riff they slow it down into a doomy death-march suggesting that having spilled blood, memories and tributes to the fallen need to be honoured. Suitably thorny it’s left to ‘Tornekratt’ to conclude this rollercoaster ride of an album. There’s a sense of solemnity and anger about it in equal parts and the Norwegian vocals add a sense of mystery as they naturally flow out from the singer. It’s a classic sounding number, one you would expect a band to come out with at their prime near the start of their career rather than so far into it. And that pretty much sums things up this is an album that illustrates Kampfar at their peak and it’s one that’s going to be very hard to top
(9/10 Pete Woods)
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