Blant svarte graner

It’s the year of our (dark) lord 2018 and black metal has progressed and evolved, to be defined by reduced distortion, maxed reverb and dissonance, buried vocals, integration of non-black metal elements, crispy clear sound that usually leans towards digital (not that any of these is essentially wrong) and 1994 is long past, right?

Right?

Wrong. Because Djevel and Blant Svarte Graner. I am really struggling here, being at the second paragraph, not to prematurely set the fireworks off, but this album bestows so many moments of black metal majesty (that we have come to love growing up) upon us in just under an hour it’s mind blowing.

As it does happen throughout the album, the intro lays out a very beautiful yet sombre acoustic main theme, which the opening track emulates in full on black metal glory, elaborates and builds on. As soon as the acoustic guitar sounds off, tremolo blasts, followed by low rumbling thunder of drums that explode into a delicious and fully analogue blast beat, a masterful black metal growl and thick basslines (will be revisited later). And the (delicious folk-inspired) melody itself, I caught myself humming it after a single listening. I have once said black metal songs are not catchy, they haunt your soul, and this ticks all of my boxes. The reason I’m going in this much detail is that this is all that we love, and have been missing in our black metal: inspirational melodies, tremolo of a macabre and sinister atmosphere, solid and variational drum and bass work, and ear-bleeding black metal growling that resonates.

The lucky thing is, the album keeps impressing, rather than letting you down after a brilliant idea that opens the album. All the 7 songs are brilliantly composed and masterfully played, adorned with so many moments of pure inspiration and experimentation, revolutionising black metal without transforming it. While every single chord progression or a change of tempo is a joy to behold, the ten-minute long closing track “Banker som doedningeknoker” (ctrl+v), which by the way contains content for a separate album, commands every second of your attention, which already took a 40 minute long black metal battery. The vocals are exemplary, in tune, sound, composition and execution. The bass acts as the rhythm, and in blessed moments lead guitar, transcending the 3-piece performance. Drums are played by Faust so I refrain from writing anything about that (they are effing brilliant). The sound is organic, analogue, yet so audible and accessible.

Blant Svarte Graner is overall a gloomy, snowy, desolate (master) piece or black metal glory, which somehow makes you happy, invigorated and undeniably nostalgic. Certainly one of the peak points of post-2010 black metal. A crowning achievement. A shining temple. Black metal is glorious.

winterwhenyoufreeze