Sacrifice to Valaskjàlf

The second full-length from Italian black/death metallers Krigere Wolf features a host of impressive elements on display making for a really explosive and engaging effort here. This is mostly centered around chaotic and utterly unrelenting old-school styled black metal based on the kind of swirling tremolo riff-work that’s been the basis for so many bands over the years sparking off a swarm of intense and chaotic arrangements littered with ferocious speed and energy as it races along throughout the tracks. The deeper, heavier rhythms found in death metal do leave this one with a stylish backbone to build off of, generating some impressive speed and overall leave the riffing with a lot to like, though it’s most certainly also generating a lot of impressive elements here from the utterly crushing and pummeling drumming. Whipping through clattering, overpowering double-bass blastbeats and fills, there’s just so much utterly devastating work there that this alone generates so much chaotic fun blasting through the tracks that it comes off all the more devastating and powerful. It does seem a little lopsided in terms of songs as the first half is so much fun while the back-end is weighed down with two useless instrumentals, which along with the intro lowers the original tracks down to six, but overall there’s plenty on offer to like elsewhere that it’s a momentary distraction rather than a debilitating detriment.

The first half here gives a strong impression of what’s on offer here. Instrumental intro ‘Whispers of the End’ features a haunting ambient note with grandiose patterns and atmospheric sounds leading into proper first track ‘Towards the Black Mass’ building into a thumping series of driving drum-work and ferocious tremolo riffing filled with explosive patterns and utterly pummeling drumming with the dynamic rhythms keeping the ambient notes to a minimum with the chaotic patterns of the finale making for an engaging and enjoyable opening blast. ‘Disciples of Sacred Fire’ uses a stylish series of swarming riff-work leading into an explosive mid-tempo blast as the utterly pummeling drumming and frantic tremolo riffing swirl through a series of dynamic rhythms keeping the charging atmospheres and heavy riffing intact through the final half for another enjoyable effort. The title track features blasting drumming amid chaotic tremolo riff-work that settles into a frantic up-tempo series of rhythms with charging patterns and scorching riffing filled with blazing chaotic tremolo melodies leading through the frantic finale making for a truly enjoyable highlight. ‘Blood to the Wolves’ takes an extended ambient intro before exploding through utterly charging rhythms with chaotic tremolo riffing alongside fully-driving drumming filled with chaotic, frenetic fills filled with unrelenting blastbeats as the tremolo riffing carries through the melodic solo section and driving through the final half for another strong highlight.

The second half is a little lighter compared to the opening but does have some engaging moments.‘Impaled Slaves’ takes a steady mid-paced series of rhythms with driving riffing alongside driving drum-work that allows for the occasional blast of scorching tremolo patterns kicking along into high-gear with the blasting energy and frantic rhythms charging along through the chaotic finale for a third strong highlight. Things take a sullen turn with the bland ‘The End Has a Beginning’ being a strumming bass-line and spoken-word interlude that feels completely out-of-place on the album and is wholly unnecessary overall here/ It picks back up with ‘Vision of Death’ bringing back ferocious drumming and scorching up-tempo tremolo riff-work with the energy keeping this one surging along with the frenetic rhythms surging through the chaotic pattern riffing as the tremolo riffing leads into the solo section while the chaotic patterns continue blasting through the final half for another strong effort. Lastly, album-closer ‘At Open Gates’ features ambient nature sounds and hushed voices over a crackling fire that effectively gives this a nice calming feeling leading into the finish which isn’t a bad outro track but highlights the other efforts as well.

An overall pummeling and dynamic release, there’s so much fun throughout here that this one manages to get a lot of it’s impressive natures out through these impressive arrangements, leaving this one to readily appeal to those more on the extreme end who appreciate this kind of style, while those looking for more melodious work in the genre will find this one somewhat challenging.

A shitty cover has never been an exclusion criteria as long as it has a certain artistic value. While the so-called artworks of bands like Cannibal Corpse appeal to the most primitive instincts, the here presented drawing is just bad without revealing an excessive affinity for dull violence. With that said, the music of Krigere Wolf moves to the foreground.

The Italian duo, which is supported by two session musicians, is familiar with some Norwegian bands that propagate the splendour of black and / or thrash metal. Its music evokes associations with Aura Noir and especially Carpathian Forest. An iota of bands like Gehenna or Gorgoroth is added as well. The mix alone gives rise to the statement that Krigere Wolf do not play the role of mere copyists. They just have been inspired by these bands and this is not objectionable. Most of us have not grown up in a musical vacuum. (Sabaton fans are the only exception. Otherwise they would worship any other band.)

The band strives for interesting and diversified song patterns and it is comparatively successful. But, as always, there are two sides of the coin. At the same time, the guys have forgotten to add this pinch of catchiness which helps the listener to get quickly familiar with the songs. Although mainstream music is mostly poor, its stylistic devices are not crappy per se. Yet the band members seem to disagree. Sometimes they want to be a kind of Italian answer to Emperor, to add another band whose works have influenced our friends from Sicilia. "Impaled Slaves", for example, possesses a progressive touch, fortunately only up to a certain point. But in terms of slightly progressive black metal, it is one of the most difficult challenges to be on an equal footing with the extravagant yet naturally flowing tracks of Emperor. Krigere Wolf solve this task in a very satisfying manner, but Emperor remain a class of their own.

However, the spheric intro is too long, the outro increases the number of useless sound collages and the soft interlude "The End Has a Beginning" reminds me of my aversion against philosophical fuss. Only six "regular" tracks remain. But they are packed with competent riffs that lead you into the surroundings of darkness and fear. "Towards the Black Mass" shines with competent guitar work and the effervescent "Disciples of Sacred Fire" spits in the sad face of mediocrity. It reflects the passion of the band in a sustainable way and I guess a lot of musicians, especially those who have signed a contract with Nuclear Blast, would be happy if they could generate a comparable degree of dedication.

The sound of "Sacrifice to Valaskjàlf" implies that the band hired a good engineer, because it does not lack of depth. Indeed, ex-Marduk Devo Andersson has mastered the album. He did definitely a good job. In particular the most intensive parts of this work allow you to dive deeply into this album. The title track or the very generic beginning of "Blood to the Wolves" leave no doubt that Krigere Wolf have an obvious affinity for rapid drums and minimalist guitar lines. Too bad that the latter offers an instrumental part, beginning at 2:20, which does not really merge with the furious start of the track. The almost weightless guitar solo that sets in after 4:07 underlines the incompatibility of the different sections. Do not get me wrong, the song is absolutely worth a listen. It just shows that the dudes from Italy still have room for improvement. That's a good thing. Otherwise it would be boring.

Sicilian black/death horde Krigere Wolf have remained active since forming in 2009. Despite a host of lineup changes and, to the best of my knowledge, only one founding member remaining, the band has unleashed two full length albums, 2012′s The Ancient Culture to Kill and 2014′s Sacrifice to Valaskjàlf and, at the time of this writing, is gearing up for another full length in the near future. The band’s sophomore album was released through Fallen-Angels Productions and boasts nearly forty minutes of unrelenting music.

Sacrifice to Valaskjàlf was recorded as a three piece, with bassist/vocalist R.C. joined by Azmeroth on lead guitar and F. Bauso on rhythm guitar; with Across the Swarm and Furyu drummer Riccardo Grechi being recruited for drums. The resulting album is harsh, acerbic and unrelenting, bursting forth in a miasmic rage of sweltering trem riffs and blastbeats, with R.C.’s raspy, gravelly bark leading the charge. Aside from a few moments of serenity during the atmospheric styling of “Blood to the Wolves” or the melodious bass and spoken word approach of “The End Has a Beginning”, Krigere Wolf charges forth with vicious fervor.

Swaths of fiery trem riffing dive headfirst into moments of blackened thrashing before crumbling under a heavy handed swagger. Despite the outright heaviness of the songwriting, the band manages to work in a few moments of harmonized guitars and plenty of solid lead work, which brings more depth than the average blasting black/death metal fodder. Although the band presents a fresh take on the sound, there are a few moments that seem to collapse under its weight; like when a riff slightly overstays its welcome or the somewhat forced atmospherics during the melodic portions seems to wander into left field.

Sacrifice to Valaskjàlf is a distinct album in that the band is able to bring a varied approach without taking away from the unrelenting and vicious style at hand. The lineup has changed since the recording of this album, so only time will tell what’s in store for Krigere Wolf on the next round. If the band can continue in this vein, the future should be bright, indeed. Fans of unrelenting black metal with shades of death and thrash metal should find plenty to dig into here.

Written for The Metal Observer.