When the names ‘Norway’ and ‘Black Metal’ are associated, it’s impossible to fans to not look back to the past, to the early days of the 90s, when a series of crimes took place on the country, and after some interviews, people could establish the link between events as churches being set on fire, murder of people and others to Black Metal. But despising the crimes, Norwegian Black Metal (as happened to Swedish, Finnish, Greek and other national scenes of Black Metal) showed a renewed form of the genre, with musical elements that made possible to a new coming for the genre (that was considered dead since the middle of the second half of the 80s). And it’s not a sin to say that, as heard on “Ingen Skånsel”, that KOLDBRANN is a true heir of the Norwegian ways for the genre.

Mannevond (the band’s singer and guitarist) is the producer and did the recordings for the guitars, bass and vocals; Vidar Ermesjø worked on the mixing and engineering (and on the recordings of the guitars as well), Ruben Willem on the recordings of the drums, and Tom Kvålsvoll did the mastering of the album. They conceived and created a fine sound quality for the album, keeping the lo-fi aspects of Black Metal (on the instrumental tunes), but with a defined and understandable approach. A fan of the genre will have no problems in dealing with it for sure, and it fits on what the band plays. By the words above the reader can have the clear idea that they work on a trench of Black Metal that is extremely traditional, with the elements that were heard on acts as BATHORY, MAYHEM, DARKTHRONE and others, but with a use of a more refined technical sense, because even with such aggressive and old-fashioned ways, they show excellent instrumental arrangements (pay attention to many parts filled with double bass parts, as heard on “Serenade Til Dødens Elende”) and fine rhythmic shifts. But again: an Old School Black Metal fan will surely love their work. Even the use of Norwegian lyrics is a classical feature of the Old School Black Metal trend of the genre.

The fans will surely love the album, because moments as “Ingen Skånsel” (a true Old School Black Metal song that after a long intro becomes a burst of infernal energy based on sharp-cutting guitar riffs), “Et Uomtvistelig Falsum” (what intense storm of piledriving blast beats contrasting with slow tempos, depicting a mature and excellent work on bass guitar and drums), “I Unaturens Vold” (another faster moment filled with that old and good aggressiveness of the past and some somber moments), “Prosesjon Under Blyhimmel” (a morbid and slow moment focused on morbid ambiences, and the harsh shrieks of the vocals fits on the spine-chilling instrumental sheath), “Det Kryper Kaldt”, “Maskiner Av Nihil” (another classic blood-piledriving set of rhythms is heard on this one, with additional guitars from their former guitarist Dragev), “Forstanden Seiler Sin Egen Sjø” (one can feel the clear influence of HELLHAMMER and SODOM on their early days on this one’ riffs), “Fortærer Av Minne Og Form”, Rykk Skaperverket Opp Med Roten”, “Vorde Eders Farkost En Katafalk” and “Serenade Til Dødens Elende” will bring your mind to the past, but keeping your feet on the present. But pay attention: the band isn’t living in the past!

The songs and music of “Ingen Skånsel” depicts that KOLDBRANN is an honest band, and that has a lot to offer Black Metal fans. Hear and feel their darkened call!