Vimur has been on my radar for quite some time though I must admit I’ve not really given them the attention they probably deserve, but this will now change after listening to their fourth magnificent slab of melodic black metal. Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia you wouldn’t ordinarily expect such fiery obsidian melodicism from that area of the US seeing as the place tends to be sultry hot by all accounts. However, the band has a glacial aura that is penetrating within the eight tracks laid down here that begin with a short intro piece called ‘Resacralization’. Even though it is an intro it still has black metal traits delivered through the guitar work that leads directly into ‘Fire, Glory And Thinking’. The flow into the tune is excellent as the abrupt melodic riff is morose to a degree but fairly upbeat in pace. As it dwells on the opening riff the song expertly switches into blasted realms and harsh caustic vocals. It is extremely catchy and has a ream of atmospherics pumped over the top to create a slight spacey feel to tunes ethos.

‘Sons Of Another Light’ is up next where an isolated guitar riff leads the song down into a blistering blast sortie right before the awesome riff change which is extremely catchy. The track is probably my favourite here, but there are so many highlights as the tune has a Watain like feel due to the riff style but a hostile vocal tone that is screeched at you dementedly. I’d even say there’s a touch of Sargeist and Horna here too though not as frosty on the production as the song unveils a raft of tempo deviations amidst the blasted segments.

Slightly longer and initially slower is ‘Wound Window’ which has a bass riff intro section before the melodic riff enters the fray. Moodier and reeking of melancholy the song is pretty close to blackened doom as the deeper vocal tone is linked to those acidic screams. As it develops you know it is going to escalate in violence and it certainly does after a couple of minutes baring its ferocious sonic fangs via a riff change and blast beat which whilst short-lived does the trick in ensuring the song is vicious to a fault. ‘The Cold Only We Know’ also has an isolated guitar riff appearing on the left of the mix where it is neatly joined by the other guitar on right for an old school black metal assault. I really do like this type of mixing guitar work as it ramps up the power substantially and gives the song a dramatic beginning. As the blast beat ensues the vocals filter in with their usual wrath as this tune is one of the fastest on offer and is similar to the likes of Dark Funeral.

Contrasting with the unerring violence of ‘The Cold Only We Know’ is ‘Fortress Of A New Faith’ which is much slower, but saturated in malevolence as the songs catchy riff leads into the best riff on the album for me after about one minute. It is truly enraging and saturated in old school blackened malice. The songs abrupt escalation in velocity is insanely intense and savage as the song uses the blast beat to batter the living hell of you, before it returns to the slower avenues demonstrated initially.

The closing two songs are much longer beginning with the atmospheric ‘The Embrace Of Merciless Indifference’ where an elongated guitar intro phase sets the scene. Again it is dramatic and immersed in despondency as the pace is closer to doom than black metal. The lengthy intro section has no vocals just a gradual build-up where after two minutes the vocals weave their pernicious way into the mix. The pace rarely changes throughout the songs duration and is certainly different to the other tracks on offer. It is still imbibed with melody as the slow funereal like pacing makes the song doleful and desolate in tone. Closing is ‘Astride The Centuries’ as here we return to normal routines, the dramatic oppressive intro section has some space effects again before the song detonates with blast beats. At close to seven minutes I wondered whether this pace would be maintained for its duration which it doesn’t as the song shifts into a very melodic riff and mid-tempo onslaught. The alternating drive of blast and tuneful riffing is superbly done as the song suddenly drops out for another fantastic riff change. The song is relentless as those de-escalations in pace only serve to channel the songs hatefulness down new avenues of indignant bitterness.

An awesome new album from Vimur, one for old school black metal purists but also those that like their black metal well produced and possessing copious skin stripping riffs.

(9/10 Martin Harris)

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https://avantgardemusic.bandcamp.com/album/the-timeless-everpresent