Ur nattvindar

Ur Nattvindar opens with a sombre acoustic instrumental (I wonder if Manegarm have ever heard of Bathory), hinting at the more melodic nature of the album. Melody is also improved with the introduction of the violin, an instrument that would appear on every subsequent Manegarm release. Opener, Daughters of Eve, is mostly a pure black metal track with a gorgeous violin melody in the latter half. Ett Gammelt Troll is a the fastest song here with some great riffs and vicious vocals. I love the blastbeats, but I wish they were a bit louder in the mix, sometimes I find myself searching for them a bit too much. Det Sargade Landet is a bit lengthier and makes the most use of violin. The tempo varies throughout, with some very nice melodic breaks, contrasting with much harsher sections. Topped off with a powerful vocal performance and some beautiful riffs, I’d safely call this one the most memorable. My only wish was that they found some way to fit in some clean chanting like on the closer from the first demo.

Despite my ramblings about the melodious nature of this release, it can still knock you on your ass at times. Generous portions of raw bursting aggression are dispersed tastefully throughout each song, although I think moments like the second half of Det Sargade Landet are the most effective. The slow, repetitive riff plods along with a fleeting violin section to compliment the yearning vocals. It’s these times when the band work together to create something beautiful that I like best. While similar in overall sound, the production differs slightly to the first demo. The guitars are a bit less crunchy on Ur Nattvindar, giving the music a colder tone. While the vocals aren’t too varied, they’re above average for a demo of this kind, and are very impressive throughout the release.

If you like your pagan metal with a black metal foundation, then this is the kind of music for you. Even in their early stages, Manegarm showed they could combine a variety of different musical elements and emotions to create a truly unique sound, eventually proving to be leaders of the genre.