Norwegian act Liktjern, whose name I think translates as Mortuary or to that effect, have not had it easy. Despite being in existence since the mid-90s the band only released one EP, ‘Kulde, Pest & Død’, and that came in 2009. The bands trials and tribulations circle around a revolving door of band members but more importantly Knokkelmann was involved in a serious traffic accident that left him needing a lengthy rehabilitation. It also didn’t help that their label at the time seemed to disappear with its support too. However extreme metal artists are nothing if not resilient and don’t allow such matters to affect artistic progression as the band eventually settled to get together for this debut full length release that follows the bleak, desolate affair of the EP, but with an increase in production values.
‘Da Døden Tok Meg Med’ opens this release and whilst the bands raw brittling guitar work is intact the album benefits from a more substantial production but retaining that wintry despairing attitude. What particularly had me fixed with this album was its riffs, which whilst not the most savage I’ve heard in black metal, there is something entwining about them, each piercing the soul alongside the embittered frosty vocal delivery. Fans of the late 80s and early 90s black metal are certain to find this release to their taste, a stripped back primal rawness oozes from each tune with blackened malice as I detected hints of very early Satyricon and likewise very early Dimmu Borgir to namecheck a couple of high-profile bands as reference point.
‘Pesta’ follows the opener with bell tolling before the track blasts in with unceremonious and archaic malevolence, with a riff that twists into your head as the pace drops hugely for a section that reeks of pagan austerity. To some degree this track and the album straddles the raw and atmospheric black metal genres, each track offering that ethereal majesty of atmospheric black metal coupled to the biting, mordant glacial riffing and vocals. With a cleaner vocal element, the title track has that pagan aspect done extremely well before the caustic vocals interject, as the song dips into melodic territory without loss of power.
‘Blood Perversion’ is outright blackened rancidity, a short nihilistic assault that typifies how black metal used to sound and backed by a superb infecting riff similar to what you hear on albums by acts such as Urgehal, Craft, Horna, Sargeist and their like. ‘Slagmark’ gets my vote for song on the album, beginning with a dramatic impacting riff that is ultra-catchy and linked to an off kilter beat you wouldn’t expect. The tempo deviations are expected as the song unleashes fine riff changes and that sense of dynamism black metal has.
There is a slight black ‘n’ roll feel to ‘Flame Of The Fallen’ after the sample intro section, that will have you thinking about Carpathian Forest for sure as the song has a theatrical feel due to its toning before the album closes with the epic ‘Profetens Sorte Drøm’. Clocking the eight-minute barrier is nothing new for black metal but what we get here is a song that detonates from the start, no intro sequence, just obliterating wrath and an abrasive aura linked to its melodic riffing. As you’d predict the speed doesn’t continue unabated, instead the track strays superbly with a cracking switch into melodic realms. As it progresses the song drops the pace for a semi-ambient phase that is haunting and macabre languishing beautifully in its melancholy and morose corrosiveness that takes it to its finale.
An excellent album by Liktjern, their nostalgic blackened fury captures the essence of the genre superbly. With songs of craft, melody and unerring malignancy this is black metal as it should be executed.
(8.5/10 Martin Harris)
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