Album
Type: Full-Length
Date
Released: 2/3/2015
Label:
Hammerheart Records
‘Skym’
CD//LP//DD track listing:
1).
Tûzen Sinnen
2).
Skym
3).
Gerlofs Donia
4).
Gjin Ferjouwing
5).
Ús Grûn
6).
Bonifatius
7).
Baduhenna
8).
Brek en Brân
9).
Ivich Libben
10).
Stoarm
11).
Bern fan Freya
Kjeld
is:
Tsjuster
| Guitars
Kd
| Guitars
Swerc
| Bass
Fjildslach
| Drums
Skier
| Vocals
Review:
This
is the first time Kjeld has crossed my path. I was told that the band
are inspired by the ancient tradition and the lyrics are in the
Frisian language, overall this is a refreshing change to the deeply
rooted Scandinavian Black metal they play. I have listened to the
record many times and in different environments, it is safe to say
‘Skym’goes well everywhere.
The
album opener starts with hammering drums and as the singer starts to
sing with the music building a melodic landscape, I am reminded of
the melodic parts of Dimmu Borgir but without directly copying them.
Kjeld present a magical blend to the music, together with inspiration
from the early black metal scene and it works very well. The album
continues with the title track, it’s a brutal onslaught but
somewhere around the 2 minute mark the tempo goes down just to give
the listener a chance to rest. Then it accelerates into the end with
a cold, icy feeling and it leaves the listener gasping for breath.
The
third track is a favourite of mine. Starting off, like they’re
unleashing hell, the track floats seamlessly into a rich variety of
the melodic guitar and the faint background synths, completed with
trumpets, making the sound landscape familiar with the one we hear
from Behemoth. The fourth track starts with a pierced guitar lead
with a rampaging intensity and when the keyboard comes in, it casts
an aura of dark beauty. It reminds me of the reason I love Black
metal. My mind swept away to the smoggy Warfield where the soldiers
lay waiting for the end. The vocalist’s snarl is definite highlight
on the record.
‘Ús
Grûn’ takes us back to the same feeling as the beginning of the
record. A midtempo start to make the listener secure before speeding
up. Nice furious drums with a lovely atmospheric guitar melody. The
following songs are in the same vein as the other ones. Hoarse sawing
guitars and as I said with a rampaging intensity sometimes mixed with
an eerie atmospheric melody combined with shrieking and very nuanced
and strong vocal performance
Skier’s
vocals are placed in the background of the production but his
shrieking and harsh vocal are still in the centre of the songs and it
pierces your brain in the most delightful way. If you should listen
to just one Black metal record of the year this could be the one
because this is another Dutch fist in the face of God!
Words
by: Sven-Åke Alveving
You
can pick up a CD/LP copy here.
For
more information:
