Tag Archives: postmetal

Review

Underground Sounds: Oldd Wvrms – Codex Tenebris

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Label: Cursed Monk Records
Band: Oldd Wvrms
Origin: Belgium

Sounds converge in mysterious ways and inspired by ancient rituals and witchcraft, the band Oldd Wvrms crafts their own blend of crawling, creepy doom with post-rock affiliations. With ‘Codex Tenebris’ the band is unleashing their third album and it is one of a transformative nature.

Oldd Wvrms has worked as a fourpiece for a longer time, but on this record continues as an instrumental three-piece. Always a bold gamble in a genre that often relies on vocalist theatrics to keep attention on the band. But after listening to their record, I have no concerns regarding the attractive value of Oldd Wvrms’ music.

Enter the gloom with Oldd Wvrms. Opening track ‘Ténèbres’ is an instant baptizing in the dark and processional nature of their sound. Like a slow dirge, you are inevitably carried down, like a hoisted coffin, on a path towards the turmoil and chaos at the root of their sound. Notably, clean guitar sounds swirl together, with catchy rhythms from firm drums. It’s tempting to nod along. As we proceed the sound becomes heavier, more oppressive and then there’s suddenly calm. Questions arise, unanswered of course…

‘A l’or, aux ombres et aux abîmes’similarly never looks for the intensity and overruling thunder you might find in bands like Amenra, but stays on the level of slithering, macabre fear. It’s like a good suspense movie, where you have no clue what it is that causes your sense of fright. Is it human, beast or something elder and more frightening? In their music, the band plays with the clashing of their instruments to evoke eruptive moments of tension and certain anxiety. But never, ever does it let go of the rope and keeps tensions high, as done on ‘Misère & Corde’.

But there’s also a filmic quality to the music of Oldd Wvrms, like on ‘La vallée des tombes’. The percussion-heavy track is one to easily get lost in, as it evokes a certain trance in the listener with its strange push-pull effect in the sound. Yet it hammers away like no other towards the end. I have to say though, that ‘Fléau est son âme’ is the track that surprises me most, as it has some of that The Devil’s Blood magic going. The wrangled guitar sound, the peculiar tone drops and all that mixed in with the doomy sound of Oldd Wvrms. Love it.

 

Review

Underground Sounds: Erdve – Vaitojimas

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Label: Seasons of Mist
Band: Erdve
Origin: Lithuania

If your band prompts a discussion on whether or not what you make is metal, then that probably means you’re interesting. Erdve from Lithuania is definitely a band that would prompt your interest if sludgy, dark mayhem is something you’re into. As it happens, I am and the record ‘Vaitojimas’, released in 2018, deserves all the attention it can get.

This is, in fact, the first release by the band, who were fortunate to be taken straight out of the demo pile onto a release. Members of the group have previously been active in acts like Nyksta, Sraigés Efektas, and Spirale.

It needs to be said, that Erdve truly adheres to the blackened sludge movement that seems to stick to whatever vestiges of the metal scene are still standing in 2018 and they run with it. Their sound is thick with atmosphere from the atonal riffing, creating a vast amount of space and a sense of something big happening on the opening title track. ‘Isnara’ attempts a little nuance with long, repetitive passages that really don’t do much more than keeping the vibe coming along with the sludgy riffing. The vocals are a furious hardcore bark and never really deviate from that sound. At some point though, things get slightly repetitive.

That sound is what the band persists with on ‘Prievarta’, where the vocals are really the only big stand-out factor for the group. The sound just keeps up its bludgeoning ferocity and hardcore anger throughout. while never releasing their catchy clarity. That requires clarification, but suffice to say that the distorted riffing and thundering rhythm section are always easily distinguishable thanks to excellent production. I have to make special mention of the track ‘Apvertkis’, which really starts with a more grungy mood and vibe. It’s much more melancholic and lacks the aggression of the further record. That makes it exceptionally captivating.

We end the album on a high note, with ‘Atraja’. A rugged, bitter and vitriolic track of pure grim-sounding sludge, masterfully crafted and captivating from start to end. Erdve has really established a name for themselves with this release and I can’t wait for more of this Lithuanian piece of violence.
Review

Underground Sounds: Trna – Earthcult

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Label: Elusive Sound
Band: Trna
Origin: Russia

Russian band Trna have not made things easy for themselves and after their well-received ‘Lose Yourself To find Peace’, they’ve adopted the genre indication blackgaze. A style indicator usually associated with those bands black metallers are eager to avoid. Nonetheless, it seems fitting in the navel-gazing haze that is Trna to use this term.

‘Earthcult’ is a more verdant record, that takes you into the splendor of nature. Not sure if that’s intended, yet it is the effect the music has on me. It is the third release from the Saint-Petersburg trio in a relatively short period of time and like the previous ones it is well worth to give a listen.
The blast beats immediately call you to attention as the record opens with the title track. A brief burst of brutality soon melts away in the lush realm of the dense atmosphere, like that of a great forest. The black metal elements are there, but soaring above is an almost ethereal melody, more akin to postrock bands in both energy and soothing beauty. The music truly flows, even more so on the rhythm driven ‘Everywhere and Nowhere’, which is a great track to just ride along with.
What I find most peculiar and fascinating about Trna, is how they blend that postrock feeling with black metal ferocity, to create something truly strong and condensed. As an everflowing stream, their music rolls ever onward, like a river through the forests, in violent turmoil but with a natural harmony on ‘The Heart of Time’. On ‘Thaw’, the band truly opens the floodgates and I feel like I’m listening to Amusement Parks on Fire or Red Sparowes. A magnificent outpouring that touches the heart through the ear. Trna have truly moved on to greatness on this record.