Sword of Moss

Average. Intensely average. That’s just about the only phrase that comes to mind in regards to this album. Every single aspect of this album is a legitimately inept attempt at Burzum worship.

A reverse-dictionary would define the opposite of worship to be a denunciation, condemnation or something similarly consciously negative aimed directly against the original source. In this case however, I believe that infantile aspirations of being seen in the same light as Burzum or Ildjarn have come to the fore in the composer’s mind.

I mean really – an old Norse name for a black metal band that’s located not only in the southern hemisphere, but more than two times closer to the equator than the spiritual home of black metal – Bergen? Really? I am not being facetious in any way. But really? Hey, I guess it ticks the Burzum box of “band name in language I can’t understand” though, right?

The music is exactly what you’d expect from any second-rate Burzum clone. Obligatory ambient passages. Obligatory high-treble guitars. Obligatory bass notes that accent the beat. Obligatory four on the floor drum beats. Obligatory bare-bones blast beats. Obligatory low-volume chanting. Obligatory in-the-background shrieks.

I don’t think I can recall a single guitar riff on this album now that I think of it. Every single “metal part” is made up of power chords strummed endlessly.

The music isn't where the Burzum worship stops, however. As much as Varg is a fan of symbolically laden classical art, so is the person behind Vindkaldr. The album cover art is an altered version of a classic eschatological Flemish Bible piece.

Highlights: Crushing Souls Under Giants Hammer. Compete with a friend. Who can listen to this 26 minute monstrosity the longest before they’re forced to turn it off out of sheer boredom? I nearly started pulling my hair out while listening. See how you go.

If you’re interested in Australian black metal that harks back to the old symphonic Norwegian scene, go and check out the similarly ridiculously named Forn Valdyrheim – at least their music is actually good.

Purely musically, this album is entirely average and would receive nothing above a 25% mark. However, it represents so much of what is wrong with black metal that is being recorded today that it deserves zero points. Avoid this unashamed scam.