GJENDOD is from Trondheim, Norway and has been around since 2015. During the past four years the Black Metal duo has managed to make several  demos, a couple of compilations, and two full-length albums. Their most recent release, "Krigsdoger," came out in 2018.

The album starts out with "Om a tro".  It's best described as chaotic with a bewildering assortment of harsh music and unusual vocalizations that keep you curious as you listen to it. Yet the song is appealing despite that sense of uncertainty. "Livet ditt," by contrast, is much slower-paced with more melodic-sounding guitar riffs which are down-tuned; the end result is a more classic Black Metal sound. I like it more than the opening track for that reason. It simply sounded better to me. "Nar sarene er renset" is also a great track. It features the same sort of classic Black Metal sound along with some excellent guttural vocals. There's a great deal of tension and fury present within the song that add to its dark appeal. However, even BETTER than those songs is "Hold pusten,"with its series of complex changes in melody and rhythm. The vocalizations are also compelling due the variations between guttural and nearly screaming styles of singing. Overall, the track has a more powerful presence to it that the others lacked.

"Skill deg ad" is down-tuned and slower. What really captures my attention are the odd whispers interspersed with shrieks and growls. The vocalizations create a sense of dread, yet I can't stop listening. The song is creepy, disturbing and really good in a strange and inexplicable way. It's one of those, "No, wait; you have to listen to the notes they're NOT playing in order to fully understand it" type of tracks. The title song, "Krigsdoger," didn't have nearly the same impact for me. It has a more Industrialized sound to it, making it seem almost mechanical at times. As a result it falls flat compared to the other songs that I mentioned. Luckily, the last two tracks on the album make up for it. "A puste liv i rattent kjott" features a mostly whispered vocalization that is liable to induce a serious case of the chills due to its eerie tone. The backing music is down-tuned and grim, which just makes the effect even more sinister. My personal favorite on the album, "Ut tre livet," is an instumental that also gives me goosebumps as I listen to it. The intro features a repetitive guitar riff that is buzzing at times and shrill at others. Combined with the loud, demanding backing music the track more or less drills its way into your brain while you listen, leaving you no way to escape it. Some of the best work by guitarist K with regard to this particular release.

I like the album. It's not one of the best Black Metal albums I've heard recently, but it's far from being one of the worst, either. If you're looking for Black Metal with a slightly more modern undertone to it then you'll probably want to add "Krigsdoger" to your collection.