From Bandcamp, “Embark on a harrowing journey into the abyss with "In het Heemskerks duin,” the latest offering from Dutch black metal entity DUINDWALER, an enigmatic force in the realm of black metal. This album transcends the boundaries of sonic extremity, casting a shroud of darkness that engulfs the listener in an otherworldly experience. The album has six songs, and “Vaderlands vuur” is first. The first few minutes are a steady pace of buzzing guitars, deep bass and drums, and a feeling of the macabre. Vocals enter, and they further the harrowing feeling.

“Razende wind” is more chaotic and thicker. The guitars keep a steady presence while meaty bass notes rumble under the machine gun drumming. The music is tight, and each note carefully placed. “In het Heemskerks duin” has a similar sound. The combination of the two-step chords, harsh vocals, ever-present drums, and harrowing sounds create an experience that is nothing short of frightening, and as a listener, you are on the edge of your seat waiting for what might be around the next corner. “Het duister bestormd” has a deeper sound, with a cavernous, underground feeling. What has the band unearthed? Shadow and flame, as in the balrog in The Fellowship of the Ring.

“Alle rust verdwenen” has a very similar pace and sound, and here is where the band needs to push themselves a little more to create diverse offerings. Although the vocals have a different cadence, it could be a continuation of the previous song. “Schim in de duinen” closes the album, and it has a combination of hate, anger, and some hopelessness qualities. The vocals are kept to a minimum so that the scary sound can sink in. Overall, I enjoyed the album. Hate raged strongest for me, but there were other sounds like depression and despondence present. My only complaint was that there wasn’t a lot of diverse sounds. The band found what they liked and went with it. Take some chances, I advise, even little ones.