Kammen

Well....


I was expecting new changes in Wyrd's sound after listening to the two previous albums, but I wasn't expecting such.... such changes.


Let me put this in simple words: This isn't Wyrd anymore. This is Wyrd Meets Katatonia. And I'm not just saying this because of the Katatonia cover, I'm saying this because the whole album sounds like a big Katatonia cover. What little ambient elements were floating around in the later albums is now practically gone, leaving only a rather dry and uninspiring doom/death, Katatonia worship band. Don't get me wrong, the music still holds the Wyrd essence, but man, is it HARD to feel it now that all that made this band one of my favourites is now gone for good.


The albums open with a song over ten minutes long, which, being Wyrd, would not be a problem at all, but since the ambient aura this band had is practically gone, the song tends to become a burden, a parade of doom riffs only interrupted by the occasional and nostalgic sound of an acoustic guitar. The only instrument that still feels like Wyrd. This formula will reign this album from beginning to end.
I am disappointed, this is not Wyrd.


But hell, there are still good thigs about this album. The music is overall considerably darker and to-the-face than the previous album, and even though it's also less melodic, it has a more mature feel to it. And even though it's not what I would like from Wyrd, it's a nice doom black metal album, and it's still black metal, musically and spiritually speaking.


So, if you're into Katatonia or like to experiment a little, give this album a try, who knows, maybe you'll appreciate it more than I did. If you like Wyrd because of works like Heathen or Vargtimmen..... stay away.