Fenris / Vendetta

First things first. Get your hands on this way-too-short ep. This is an industrial/black metal masterpiece. Helheim have fused the perfect blend of industrial and black metal that will rip your face off. The best part of Fenris is that the black metal elements are not even of the standard Norwegian sort. The vocals are a desperate sounding, gravelly shout with slight electronic modification. The guitars vary from a full-out speedy assault to a mid-paced, repetitive (this is good) trance.

Helheim fuse the industrial elements into the black metal flawlessly with the drum machine and synths. Somehow they manage to stop the black metal onslaught and bridge into an out of place industrial synth interlude, and make it work. However, this is Helheim's formula for all four tracks, therefore their only fault.

Somehow scam this disc for yourself. Hopefully some label will smarten up and re-release this soon.

I’m amazed at the overall lack of information regarding this excellent band, as they’re the only Helheim that really matters. Fusing black metal and industrial in ways that make Red Harvest seem tame by comparison, they were also somewhat notorious for the pseudo-NS artwork and symbolism adorning their releases, including this album; Fenris. I don’t know if they ever declared themselves as such or not, but the wolf’s head sunwheel on the front of the disc certainly looks like a swastika to me. Of course, all of this only matters if you’re the tighty-whitey type, and if you are, why the hell are you reading this review (or even on this site)?

So, the music! This incredible EP represents Helheim’s most impressive work, an aural assault that never lets up even for a moment during it’s 25+ minutes. After a brief intro, “Syndens Makt” explodes into high gear, the raging guitars somehow keeping pace with the insane speed of the drum machine but never succumbing to outright toneless blasting. No, even at such high speeds, Helheim engages the listener with interesting and menacing riffs. Jon’s inspired vocals soon join the fray, more reminiscent of Aldrahn’s barking on Dødheimsgard’s classic Kronet Til Konge than a typical black rasp. Listen to those screams, they absolutely seethe anger! Just when you think you can’t take any more, the band pulls a complete 180, the guitars drop out entirely, and suddenly you find yourself listening to full blown electronica. Absolutely no momentum is lost in the transition, either, it just keeps surging forward with the same feral energy. They’re not done yet, though! The guitars reemerge and dive into an even nastier riff than the first, accompanied by one of the greatest angst-ridden cries ever heard in extreme music. If you don’t have goosebumps at this point, I say you’re not a true metal fan. While “Syndens Makt” is definitely the EP’s strongest track, the following songs are by no means filler material. “Saga Morket” slows things down a bit, finding a groove and again featuring some of the best vocals I’ve personally ever heard. “Amok” destroys you before you have a chance to catch your breath, however, again showcasing the band’s incredible mastery of weaving memorable melodies throughout impossible bursts of speed. The way they incorporate the electronic elements is fucking genius, too - there’s nothing like it. “Fimbulwinter” completes this manic journey with confidence, leaving us craving more and reaching for the “repeat” button.

I honestly cannot find a single bad thing to say about this disc, save for it’s length, and only because I’m always left wishing for a full-length. It was released through Necropolis, so it’s not exactly on an obscure label, but because it was out of print long ago, it’s become quite the collector’s item. If you should luck out and find yourself with the opportunity to take it off some poor sap’s hands, I strongly recommend you do. You won’t be sorry.