In a black metal world where the genre has virtually every sub-genre type you can conjure up Finland’s Ondfødt are possibly the purist form of black metal you’ll hear in recent years. There’s no trickery here, no polluting sub-genre stains as the band’s third full length reeks of obsidian ferocity, exactly like their previous releases. These Finns just get it right in every aspect of this album, the sound has that razoring sharpness, the riffs slash at the listener like a million knives but importantly the songs are all individual, each possessing their own uniqueness.

With a relatively short intro piece, ‘Höstdröm’ sets the scene with isolated bleak guitar increasing in intensity creating dramatic overtones that lead into ‘Höstfurstin’ and what strikes you instantly is their ability to craft such fantastic wrathful riffs within songs that are immediately catchy. There are some hints of Carpathian Forest due to the riffing have that punk like infusion though this act is as vitriolic as it gets in black metal similar to the likes of Horna, Sargeist and their ilk. The sheer palpable aggression is felt throughout as ‘Han Bor I Skuggona’ continues the relentless start to the album. Their ability to incorporate smooth tempo dynamics enhances every song, positioning them with an air of theatricality without diluting the fury.

There is a ton of groove on this album, a sort of black ‘n’ roll so to speak, each riff carving its own melodicism yet linking it with the inexorable rage within the vocals and blasted speed, particularly on songs like ‘Gifti Från Tadjin’ and ‘Mörkri’. The latter of which boasts atmospheric sprinklings done very subtly but imbibing the song with that sense of drama I’ve mentioned. Without doubt this Finnish act loves their acerbic destructive styling as they return to outright venom on ‘Ti Dödas Viso’ utilising a piercing riff at its outset that has empowering annihilation and hooks into your head with consummate ease. Likewise, with ‘Natten’ as the bands continual onslaught shows very little signs in relinquishing its angst as here the band open the song with a slower moodier approach set against another superb riff puncturing the mix. You can feel the intensity building, feel the build-up towards the detonation which arrives and though the velocity is a shade less than other tunes the utterly terrifying power is tangible right until they drop in an acoustic ambient phase which works brilliantly segmenting the track with a fine atmosphere before the song racks up in tension towards its finale.

Closing this astonishingly good album is the title track, a slightly longer construction and where you would expect some atmospherics the band catches you unawares and blasts in from the start. Again, the vocals have that terror-stricken toning, screaming malevolence, screeching malignancy but linked to some cool catchiness. The closer is a pinnacle of the album, each track preceding leading to this monumental barrage that oozes class as each passing second is hooked into tempo dynamics aplenty and of course superb riff changes all within a song that rockets along when required, then restrains for those catchy elements I’ve banged on about during this review.

Black metal doesn’t get much better than this, Ondfødt capture the essence and blackened malfeasance soul of the genre on this stupefying incendiary release.

(9.5/10 Martin Harris)

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https://digital.immortalfrostproductions.com/album/norden