Audn are comparable to a toddler amongst the Scandinavian black metal family, being spawned back in 2010, they are now unleashing their third opus onto the world, and to those of us who aren’t overly familiar with the bands native tongue, the album moniker is as complex and intriguing as the musical score itself.
Vökudraumsins Fangi is monstrous with rising riffs, a titanium backbone forged from the skins of Sigurður Kjartan Pálsson and powerful and layered vocals courtesy of Hjalti Sveinsson. There is an undercurrent of a traditional savage black metal DNA which is fused with a more modern and contemporary facet of the black arts.
Vökudraumsins Fangi is layered with eccentricity and complexity which germinates to build and nurture an offspring which is overflowing with ferocity and dynamism. The modernism that’s being exuded from the grooves of the vinyl are potent and vicious with a discreet beauty which is frost ridden and ice clad to the nth degree. There are some tracks which definitely raise their shoulders above others on the album and these are noteworthy of any review and dissection of the album.
The intro to Einn Um Alla Tíð is haunting in its acoustic approach and creates a mesmerising backdrop on which to build the venom and spite, culminating in a brutal assault on your senses.
Birtan Hugann Brennir is melancholic and plodding, it injects carefully measured doses of pace and savagery with riffs smouldering beneath the surface which all sit atop powerful and crushing drum beats which sit, burning steadily below the surface.
The opening to Drepsótt is less than smooth, jumpy and fragmented only giving slight respite to the staggered and punctuated rough flow with a powerful and bellowing chorus. The whole track feels disjointed and rushed with no real efficiency to the structure.
Horfin Mér is melodic and exhilarating. The melodies intertwine with the brutal composition from the strings and drums and the vocals being measured and distinguished. The assault on your timpani’s is piercing and fierce and true Icelandic in their approach and deliverance. There is a real rawness shining through the complexity and brutality which breeds a dark beauty which is only afforded to black metal and its raw components.
The album closes its chapters with a double barrelled battering from Ljóstýra and Vökudraumsins Fangi which tie off the album with majestic rousing soundscapes. The tracks are delicate and sit almost like a pair of twins amongst their previous siblings. The tracks are relatively conservative and this allows you to appreciate the various facets and layers on display within the confident and commanding package.
The production of Vökudraumsins Fangi is excellent and is definitely stepped up from the previous offerings from Audn. It is dynamic throughout and has layering and complexity overflowing. The album is mature and intricate with even a fresh pinch of death metal on Eldborg which shows how multidimensional Audn are crafting into.
Audn are back and are an authoritative and dominant force on the black metal domain. This is definitely impressive and gives you the chance to explore your more diverse and creative darkened side of your soul.
(9/10 Phil Pountney)
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