The Weak Creation

While I’ve encountered the name Hyadningar I can’t recall myself to actually have heard a predecessor to "The weak creation". And while I’ve listened over and over again to it now, I just haven’t been able to bring myself to actually write a review of it. Every time I’ve tried my mind’s drawn a complete blank. Even now, in this very moment, I have no idea what I’m about to write next. I know I like the album, I know it’s actually pretty damn good, but I still have no freakin’ idea what to say.

While they might not bring anything really new to the table these Frenchies mix and match various styles of black metal, as well as some non-metal related genres, into a sound of their own. Be it a hint towards depressive black, a dash of the more modern post-rock black or just plain melodic black; there’s still a sense of Hyadningar running through it. The outcome of it all is a frenzied and intricate album filled with complex drumming, technical riffing and ferocious vocals. One minute they might blast like hell, accompanied by an unorthodox melodic guitar line, and the next minute they’ll come to a halt and mellow out into a mesmerizing doom-laden heaviness. Paying close attention to what’s going on one will constantly discover new little quirks lurking in the background, or a sudden riff outburst you hadn’t heard before. Musically it’s of a very high standard, and vocally it’s definitely not lacking in quality either. While remaining somewhat within classic black metal shrieks Marquis whips out tons of variations; ranging from gnarly high-pitched squeals to desperate cries of pain to just agonized moaning.

I guess that pretty much sums it up; intricate, technical and varied. There’s just so much going on I’m not really sure what is going on all of the time. It’s very atmospheric, and I’m thankful they didn’t use a keyboard to create that atmosphere, seeing as I’m pretty sure it would just have diluted their sound. It is one mean-as-hell album they’ve brought to the table, one I’m not sure everyone will be able to get (I’m not sure I really get it either). But it is extremely powerful stuff that brings tons of acts to mind, everything from Bethlehem to Mayhem to Fäulnis, but still not coming close to actually grasping what Hyadningar is about. Powerful stuff, no doubt about it.

Originally written for http://www.mylastchapter.net