Trelldom comprises a trio of luminaries with links to many known names from the Norwegian black metal camp: Gorgoroth, Gaahls Wyrd, God Seed and more. Kristian Eivind Espedal a.k.a. Gaahl himself is a prominent member of the band, which dates back to 1992 and has four albums to its name, including this one. With saxophones, a clarinet, and electronics in the musical mix, clearly this is more than just a statement from a black metal band.
The electronic effect features in the opening track “The Voice of What Whispers”. Together with the distorted sound of the saxophone, the vibe is psychedelic and scary. The drum pumps out an ominous beat. The guitar attack is sharp and clear in contrast to the surrounding sounds. Espedal’s dark voice and whisper contribute to the fear-driven atmosphere of this darkly colourful and strangely dramatic piece. This is very different. A lot is packed into five minutes. The guitar rhythm of “Exit Existence” is expressive, depressive even, and bleak. Espedal’s quiet and spooky voice is enhanced by a myriad of haunting and evocative sounds, which create a ghoulish and chilling effect. The sound of the saxophone flails amid a forceful instrumental line. One has to take breath after these intense but not heavy pieces. The squealing saxophone features in the gloomy and bleak instrumental piece “Return the Distance”. It’s all quite psychologically disturbing. The slow beginning of “Between the World” has the feel of an electric storm. Again gloomy and shadowy, the darkly whispered words and distorted instrumentation reinforce the otherworldly fear factor. Slowly and patiently it presses forward in its shadowy black way, ending as a kind of hymn.
The pace picks up for the first time with “I Drink Out of My Head”. I guess I can’t get away with describing it as “very strange”. It’s basically a sort of punkish mayhem with the chaotic sound of the saxophone and everything else mixing with a magisterial moan by way of vocals. They drink, we’re out of our heads with the lack of conformity and strangeness of it. That’s about the sum of it. Are you sitting comfortably, then I’ll begin …. well there’s not a chance of feeling comfortable with this work. “Hiding Invisible” is sinister, and gloomier than gloomy. Who knows what lurks in those shadows? Something horrible for sure. Distant dark moanings stand behind the hypnotic progress. This dark journey ends with the, well, dark journey of the title song. Its progress is like an adventure, and contrasts with the gloom of “Hiding Invisible”. In its unique and eccentric way it captures, drama, suffering and chaos. Be disturbed by it.
“… By the Shadows” is all geared to scary atmospheres. It would be far too trite to caption it as just black metal. This is very different to almost everything. It’s imaginative in concept. One can’t imagine what’s going through the trio’s minds to arrive at this disturbing result. “… By the Shadows” is powerful, creative and original.
(9/10 Andrew Doherty)
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