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Bezdan > Spirits of the Past > Reviews > Skarvod Nyarlathotep
Bezdan - Spirits of the Past

HEAD-BANGER REVIEWS - 80%

Skarvod Nyarlathotep, March 22nd, 2018

The essence of black metal is something that not many people are able to put a finger on and at the same time be able to execute an album of the style with both precision as well as delicacy. It’s a thing that is tried in a traditional form so wearily often, but it’s almost always interesting to see how different bands can portray the style. While met with less than successful results, the few bands that overcome are always noteworthy. Tonight, I add Bezdan to the miniature list of bands that have managed to do such.

With an album as on the nose as “Spirits of the Past”, there’s little argument as to what Bezdan was trying to create here with their take on black metal that still manages to work in modern elements and some personal creativity amongst the worship of classic black metal. The six tracks (including a tantalizing Goatmoon cover) that make up this record are just what many black metal fans strive to look for as Bezdan is able to find a happy middle ground between raw energy and conformity as “Spirits of the Past” shows a solid array of flavors that this band can conjure up whilst still undoubtedly remaining black metal. That’s a very delicate balance but Bezdan does it with ridiculous style. Each track has its own flavor whilst the work as a whole is a glorious display of black metal the likes of which we truly don’t get often enough, and Bezdan shows that they know how to put on quite a show! Whether this is Bezdan’s first effort or tenth, this band has got plenty to prove and “Spirits of the Past” is a magnificent starting point!

A band that has promise is no rarity in the world of metal given how fucking massive it is, but it never gets old to find new bands that impress one time after another. Bezdan easily fit the bill for me, and “Spirits of the Past” shows that these guys know exactly what they’re fucking doing even if they’re but a small blip on the greater radar that encompasses all of black metal.