German black metal band Fyrnask are releasing their fourth album with “Vii – Keroma”. The album is said to be rooted in ritual ambient and drone, with additional world music, synthesised sounds and more traditional elements. This album is broadly speaking about sacrifice and suffering.
The opening track “Hraevathefr” starts quietly and ominously before pouring out its soul into majestic expanse. The drum has a tribal feel. Four minutes in the world collapses, and the coldest and most murderous black metal is spewed forth. There are evil things going on in the foreground and background. The scenes change like the weather but it’s always dark, heavy and oppressive. It’s a harsh world. “Hraevathefr” ends atmospherically with a choir chanting, and this leads us into the deep gloom and mists of “Sjodhandi Blodh”. The vocalist screams his utterances as the progress is post metallish until all hell breaks loose. An explosion leads us into a blizzard of fear-induced noise. Stylistically the black metal is reminiscent of Dark Fortress with the creepiness of Farsot. Everywhere there is paranoia. Each passage is filled with intensity and fear. The guitar plays imperiously. The vocalist roars and shouts indistinctly in the background. “Nidhamkyr” is a cacophony of sound, transforming into post industrial chaos and destruction. It calms down at the end but such is the furious storm before it, there can’t be much left standing after the devastation. Stormy weather and a chiming church bell mark the start of “Helreginn”. Dark mystical power takes over an already imposing scene. The drum beat takes us to war as a haunting chant slides ominously through the wall of fury and noise. This is utterly devastating in its force. The sound effects eke out every last drop of terror and blackness. But it’s not all violent and turbulent atmosphere. “Daudhvana” is powerful and melancholic. The atmospheric mists rise and fill the air. Angelic voices then take over for the final piece “Blotgudh”. We have been through chaos and destruction. We are now at the top of the mountain.
Prepare to be frightened and impressed. “VII – Kenoma” is a thoroughly absorbing album. This is atmospheric black metal at its imaginative best.
(9/10 Andrew Doherty)
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