Part two of my three-part series of "Mitchell forgot to review these black metal albums." Today's episode features Greve, an atmospheric/symphonic black metal band hailing from the only logical place, Sweden. Greve has had many members over the years, but for their 2025 release, "Bleknat bortom evig tid" (Faded beyond eternity), they've landed with Korgath and Swartadauþuz yet again, a powerful duo with the help of another duo, J.H. and Sortilege. Together, they bring an album full of foggy yet brutal music, wrapped up in a spooky, glaucous cover.

"Bleknat bortom evig tid" is a rich album that, despite all of its glory, was definitely a challenging listen. I'm of the generation that's hopelessly addicted to short-form content, and while I'd like to mount my soapbox and claim that I have a decent attention span, I admittedly found myself yawning from time to time. In my defense, ambient-leaning black metal genres don't host the most exhilarating music. However, don't let this discourage you --  the record is great. Greve fully understands how to create a crushing, multi-layered atmosphere. From crackling thunder to pouring rain, you're whisked away to the cold Swedish wilderness and forced to survive. Most of the album's richness stems from how the guitars are handled. Instead of aiming for ferocious riffs, Swartadauþuz lets the guitars build upon each other, allowing waves of pure distortion to envelop you in their Nordic ambiance. The bass, supplemented by session bassist Sortilege, is constantly rumbling underneath the guitars, creating a perpetually somber tone.

The record's symphonic elements, mainly the thick instrumental harmonies, emit a sense of regality. You'll feel like a king while listening, and whether you're good or evil is up to you. Probably evil, as to match Korgath's distant vocals. Ghastly, raspy, and at times surprisingly deep are best to describe his style, and don't be afraid if you can't hear them. They're smothered in the usual Greve ambience. There are no "weak" moments, because each track contains plenty of the atmospheric hullabaloo I've been ranting about. Of course, the amount varies, so songs like "Livets Fjatter Brista" and "I Dunkel Poesi," tracks with a higher atmospheric concentration, are instant highlights.

Greve is a solid band that makes some solid black metal. To fully enjoy this album, set aside a part of your day to just listen and take in everything they have to offer. Make sure to train your attention span as well, especially if you're around my age.