Striking wrath, exquisiteness and ambience are just some words that could be used to describe these four black metal Danes working in absolute harmony to create their first full length release, ‘Forfader,’ which is laced throughout with haunting melancholy and stunning black metal overtures. Glemsel are relatively newcomers to the black arts, and they have delivered with six sublime slices of captivating and mesmerising soundscapes.
The six tracks on their latest release are all independent of each other yet intertwine delicately to create a rounded and stunning vehicle on which to showcase their talents. The tracks are deeply connected, yet each stands proud with an identity all of its own. The number of tracks might be minimal, but the structure of each track is marathonic and muscular in its appearance.
‘Arv’ opens up with minimal background noise before an enchanting guitar doodle is exhibited by way of some acoustic six strings. The track is instrumental and stripped back with a calculated and emotional purpose all of its own.
‘Mod Afgrund’ has various branches or instrumental DNA throughout, yet the drumming is rabid and intense. Iversen delivers vocals of varying degrees of spite and venom which help create a foreboding sense of raucousness and delicacy throughout. The fretboards lead the pace and take your hand with a commanding presence as they carve you open to beautiful chords and swathing segments, all adding purpose and necessity to the track.
‘Savn’ is another track clocking up over nine minutes, delivering a deeper and doomier sound than its predecessors, it is layered and intricate and the vocals from Iversen seem to have more power and agony sitting behind them. The track is epic in its construction and intelligent in the structure of the body which leads nicely into track four, ‘Montens Praedikant.’
‘Montens Praedikant’ is livelier in the background with a colossal guitar score which keeps it grounded in all its glory. The vocals sound possessed and mid track we are treated to some stripped back string work which allow you to re acclimatise before launching us back into the manic beauty of the track. This is a standout track on the release and had me reaching for the repeat button over and over again, just to allow myself the decadence of re immersing myself in the grandeur and beauty of it all.
‘Det Gamle Ma Vige’ is opened with a crash, which then releases a tsunami of atmosphere and exquisite charm before the band stride into the riot of a track. The vocals are more commanding and raucous than we have previously seen, the track sits at the eleven-minute mark, although this really seems like more a sprint than the actual marathon that it is. We are treated to more stripped back guitar work and enchanting string work which ends the track and leaves you feeling totally battered and bruised.
So, up steps the final track of the album, and strap yourselves in, this is monumental and colossal, a true warrior to end the album on. Hypnotic and moody guitars open ‘Ansigterne’ and these lead us into a track weighing in at over the ten-minute mark. The track seems more tuneful and controlled than the rest of its album siblings and there are splinters of individuality from each of the string players, each playing their own part in creating an all-encompassing myriad of beauty and indulgence. The vocals seem to be less maniacal but are all still spat out with true belief and venom throughout. A perfect way to round off this black metal carbon jewel.
A measured and calculated, venomous and aggressive raw black metal delivery from the less obvious Scandinavian country. If you are a black metal fan, you need this in your life now, if you don’t normally venture on that side of the tracks too often, then this may well and truly give you the shove you need
(9/10 Phil Pountney)
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