The Metal scene of Netherlands is notorious due the famous Death Metal names as SINISTER, GOREFEST, GOD DETHRONED and many others, but sometimes it's not so easy to have access to different releases from other Metal genres from the country. But from time to time, some of them appear to show that things are different from the ideas of the fans. KJELD is a fine surprise, as can be heard on "Ôfstân".

The quintet shows a violent and oppressive Black Metal in a traditional format, although it's adorned with fine musical arrangements. The band uses a personal approach that can seem as a blend of influences from Finnish, Swedish and Norwegian Black Metal Schools, but as mentioned above, in a way that is peculiar. Energy, aggressiveness and all those good elements from the genre are offered by them, but in a refined way. Jörg Uken is the name of the producer and the one who did the mix, leaving the mastering to the hands of Arjan. And besides the quintet uses a crude approach on the recordings (the classical way used on the genre), Jörg and Arjan did the things in a way that the fans can hear and understand, in a way that shows the advantages of modern techs.

All the nine songs will give the fans a very good time, but for the ones who aren't introduced to their work, "Betsjoend" with its massive aggressiveness and weight (in a similar way to MAYHEM and MARDUK, and with a very good work on guitars), the fine keyboards ambiences of "De Iensume Widner", the crude and nasty approach used on "Ôfstân" (that shows an unconventional work on bass guitar and drums in some moments), the terrorizing ambience created by guitars and keyboards on "Wite Fokel", and the mixing of drilling fast tempos with morbid keyboards shown on "Falske Doop" (along with very good contrasts on vocals' tunes) are the best ones.

KJELD is a very strong and talented band from the genre, and "Ôfstân" shows the tendency of growth in the future. For now, if you're a Black metal fan, you're obligated to listen to their work. You won't regret the experience.