Khold are one of these Norwegian black metal bands who knowingly or not advanced the genre in the 00s. Continuing the tradition of utterly raw and desolate black metal, elements of persistent melody supplemented the bleakness and moved away from sheer extremity. Well, that’s my take on it. Others may disagree. I own a couple of Khold’s earlier albums and have always appreciated their work. My favourite of them is “Mørke Gravers Kammer” (2004). “Svartsyn” (“Pessimism” in English) is the band’s 7th album release.
The opening bars are immediately recognisable as Khold and as Norwegian black metal in general. Relentless, “Apostel” has that driving force, hammering drums and the growling, sinister guitar. All this comes with an overt element of menace. There’s no fuss. The guitar sparks fly once more as “Ødslet Blod” (Wasted Blood) begins. It’s like a machine grinding away. The funny thing is that the guitar work and riffage are upbeat, but the vocals and overall ambience most certainly aren’t. In fact, it’s so dirty that I felt like wanting to hose myself down while bouncing along to tracks like “Evig” (Eternal). Of course it would never work if the album only exuded light, even if it’s a façade to draw us in to the nightmare and suffering, and sure enough we plunge directly into the depths of depravity and pain. The customary hypnotising melodic rhythm runs through “Skarpretter” (Sharpshooter), but also dives into darkness and switches between passages. It all adds up to the same laser intensity. “Helligdom av Døde” (Shrine of the Dead) lives up to its title. Slowed down, it is funereal and threatening as it creeps forward heavily. Cleverly it gets heavier still as the drum and guitars strike notes of epic doom and finality. “Helligdom av Døde” is hellishly atmospheric but ultimately takes no prisoners in leading us to a deathly underworld.
“Manngard’ takes us back to fiery territories. It is the archetypal Khold track but while majoring on nastiness perhaps doesn’t have the nuances which threaten and engage us. “Dystopi” (Dystopia) has more variety in its outpouring and features another of those imperious forward-driving riffs to go with the deep tones and overall malevolence. Fast forward we melodically and bouncily go to “I Demonens Bok” (In the Book of Demons). Featuring clever breakdowns and brief bass sections, it’s a toe-tapping, headbanging romp but not in a violent way. Khold’s music is too fluid for that. It can be very grim too, as “Villvandra” (Wander) proves. Finally we get a slow and deliberate march in the form of “Bryt I Udåd Ut”. On it progresses grindingly, with downward guitar distortions and irrepressible despair in this begrudging black metal. And as it gets into your head, it stops, leaving us with the murderous riff continuing in spite of the album having finished.
This is classic Khold. On the face of it “Svartsyn” is an old school black metal album of simple structures which sweep listeners along. It is that, and that helps to make it another enjoyable listen from the band, but it plays out in a harsh, merciless and at times ultra-dark landscape. “Svartsyn” specialises in musical twists and contrasts, resulting in constant subtle developments and a form of psychological indoctrination throughout this darkly atmospheric album.
(9/10 Andrew Doherty)
Leave a Reply