DJEVEL is a black metal band from Norway, who formed in 2009. Their latest album, “Natt til ende,” is their ninth full-length album; they have also released two EPs and a split. DJEVEL’s music is misanthropic and cold as a frozen grave. With that being said, it’s also atmospheric with a lot of deep layers. These layers are built piece by piece, blood by blood so they don’t come off sounding something typical of most bands under the atmo umbrella. Their music, despite all its intricate details and subtleties, remains dark and underground enough to satisfy even the most cynical black metal fans. I like the pacing of the album, it goes a long way in prolonging its enjoyment. Of the seven songs, all of them are under seven minutes except two and those are the seven and half minute “En vinter efter kommer,” and the nearly fifthteen minute title track. The album ends up being just under 46 minutes in length, which is perfect for this style.

Fortunately, those two songs are also the best on the album! “En vinter efter kommer,” begins with big riffs, laced with the sharp, evil tones that are the hallmarks of the genre. These mid-paced notes absorb the atmosphere well, becoming a huge wall of sound that acts as the perfect springboard for the haunting blackened screams to jump from. The middle part shows off some of the best guitar playing on the album just before the song drops all the instruments for a round of vocal chants. These clean voices work amazingly well with the blackened aspects as the song builds back up. The epic title track closes the album and I couldn’t think of a better way to do it or a more fitting song. The beginning is fire and fury, melting the icy with blazing instrumentation and vocals that have a ghostly and ghastly echo to them. My favorite part of the song, and perhaps even the album as a whole, is just after the halfway point with the icy keys and harrowing, tortured vocals melding as one insane passage.

Of course, the album has a strong beginning as well with the opening song “Bespottelsen.” It’s one of the faster, more aggressive songs that starts the album off with a bang. I like how the tempo is pulled back around a quarter of the way through the song, in service of the atmosphere to sink in and offset some of the aggression even as it seeks to honor it. “Under nattens fane i fandens prakt,” is another highlight for me. It’s right up there with the opening song in terms of its aggression but it retains a detached, primordial atmosphere like the other songs. After the three minute mark, the temp slows a little and some of the best riffs on the album come to life.

DJEVEL’s “Natt til ende,” is an impressively bleak album that is just as engaging with its atmospheric side. This album will please fans of more straightforward blackened tendencies as well as people who want a little more depth to their black metal.