It can be pretty easy as a Metalhead to lose sight of just how silly the genre appears to outsiders. Songs about Satan, murder, dragons and more is perhaps a snapshot of what the non-Metalhead sees, but is it really that silly? We all watch films for example, films of differing genres from a simple Romance to an epic Fantasy tale and many derive pleasure from such things, so why should music be any different? Alas I digress today we are to talk of a genre that many would deem pointless given its name, a genre not so subtly called Depressive Suicidal Black Metal or DSBM for the more initiated.
The band whom are our subjects for this review and topic are the Swedish underground titans Ofdrykkja. The band formed in 2012 and I was later introduced to them by my best friend through their 2014 debut A Life Worth Losing. Indeed, it was that debut that helped get me into DSBM as a wider subject and in fact has seen me continue a love for Ofdrykkja. Again, they delivered in the 2017 sophomore record Irrfärd which saw further progression. Now comes the third release Gryningsvisor, this time through Art Of Propaganda, will it prove a further success or have the band met their demise?
Strangely, yet I suppose quite fittingly DSBM has a common bond with Folk Metal, at least in an Atmospheric Black Metal sense. This is generally derived from slower acoustic, emotional passages which appear comforting yet melancholic, as is the case in this album’s delicate instrumental introductory track Skymningsvisa. Seamlessly the first actual track The Swan is welcomed with similar beauty and light projection. There is a gradual progression that sees underlying distorted Black Metal riffs come into the mix along with suffering rasped vocals as well as beautiful Folk infused cleans that lift the band’s sound so perfectly. The album becomes almost experimental during Swallowed By The Night, namely through the piano sections and female vocals and even becomes anything but depressive and rather it becomes uplifting.
Most of the album doesn’t deviate from the aforementioned connotations. In I Natten serves as a sort of interlude between the two halves and works well with further female vocals and generally Folk based instrumentation. Herr Mannelig is an especially relaxed track that is really very peaceful and almost dream like. It is a pleasure in itself to watch this band develop and grow over time and this track is a further testament to the band’s evolution. This takes Atmospheric Black Metal to its very roots and presents something altogether unique and of its own right. In fact, even as the album moves forward and the Blackened riffs arise again the most dominant feature remains the Folk/ Atmospheric touch. It feels almost as if the band are transcending from purist Black Metal into higher worlds something which I can only commend as progressive in a flooded and often unchanging scene. At its closure through Grey and closing more subdued titular instrumental we are left in ethereal passages of purity be that through darkness, misery or elation this is a strong record with a lot of heart.
DSBM is strangely often something that I sway towards in the winter months and is a genre which gives me great admiration for musicianship and great relaxation. Somewhat similar to my love for Dungeon Synth this is a genre of power through relaxation. I really enjoy this style of Metal and quite honestly I don’t know why I don’t listen to it more for it can be befitting to any time or place, it all just depends on your own mindset. If you’re an existing fan of Ofdrykkja then this is sure to be a total winner, if you’re not then again this is a great place to start. Perhaps the bands most ambitious album to date full of new and exciting ideas and themes.
(8/10 George Caley)
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