On December 4, 2020, SARVEKAS, a Finnish melodic black metal band, released an EP entitled "Of Atavistic Fury & Visions".   The E.P. was recorded at Ragged Sound Studio by Juha Nikkanen and mastered by K.L. (Raja-Audio). Kristina Pavleska created the cover art that even through youtube is visually expressed in three dimensions; the art itself depicts a sword along the spine of Norse deity named Surtr - as referenced through the name of the final E.P. track.  The lyrics involve Scandinavian Mythology, bits of Satanism, and a love of darkness; SARVEKAS is a Finnish term for "horned one".

"Dark Spiritual Devotion" - the first E.P  track begins as though the song has been in progress prior to the recording. After a few seconds into the song - the listener realizes the song to begin on the first note of a theme-which after further review, proves to be a part of larger sixteen beat phrase construction entitled a "period". The first four beats opens with an antecedent assertion; the second four beats restates the assertion-yet alters with an interrogative melodic progression as the melody moves upward toward the dominant (fifth) scale degree (this is entitled a "half cadence" in classical form) - and this two-measure phrase endures for an approximate twelve seconds; the next four beats restate the original theme, perhaps slightly altered, while the last four beats answer the previous "question" - as the melody moves back down toward the root - hence the first twenty four seconds of "Dark Spiritual Devotion" comprise a four measure "classical period"-with the first two measures "antecedent" and the following two measures "consequent". Two guitar tracks simultaneously resound, with one track playing the lower strings, with another track playing the theme on higher strings.  At about two minutes - the song grows interesting - as the straight, speedy & thrash-style drum beat has progressed, while the song theme suddenly subdivides with accents and simultaneous snare & cymbal crashes; then the song modulates (similar to a deceptive deceptive cadence by unexpected dominant tonicization of the relative sixth chord). This is extremely interesting - as  two alternate sequential parallels follow between chord progressions of VI/IV/II & V/III / 1. Musical leads (lead guitar) without any pretensions of speed, balance a delicate melodic counterpoint as J.K.s growls an unknown black metal incantation of doom.

"Hexenpyre" - the second E.P. track, pre-released on Youtube by Soulseller Records on October 25, 2020, begins nearly as suddenly as the former track, yet it proceeds both with a standard rock drum beat-but with an undercurrent of fast double bass drums. At about two minutes-ten seconds, the drums move to a fast, thrash beat, while guitars strum sixteen note patterns-with slower moving melodies upon the higher strings.  At about three minutes nineteen seconds, the song drastically slows, while chords slowly arpeggiate on the guitars. The drums on occasion grow ferocious with occasional activity between the bass drums and snare.

"The Sacred Hour Of The Hunt"- the third E.P. track was pre-released to youtube by Souseller records on November 3rd, 2020. The song begins slowly and is carried both through a "normal rock drum beat" above fast double bass drums-yet, with slower rhythm guitars. The second guitar track slowly arpeggiates through unexpected harmonic dissonance or former and preceding chord changes.  Still, I cannot underestimate the intensity of this thematic riff.  Drums move to a fast thrash-style snare beat during the verses - while the rhythm guitars and thematic leads of J.L. maintains a slow & deliberate musicality; this expressive - even reflective thematic duality combined with the aggressive fury conveyed by A.A.s drumming technique is a new & welcome change within metal so heavy.

"Where No Man Has Trodden" - the fourth E.P. track,  opens as melodically as is found  throughout the release.  However, the music during the versus grows intense & thoroughly dissonant; yet still replete with the resolution of suspended chords amidst further unresolved intervals that nicely sustain with a seething dissonance. Delay & reverb of former chord changes sustain through chord progressions while the drums continuously increase with speed & intensity. The intensity of this song & that of "The Sacred Hour of the Hunt" compete as my favorite tracks on the release.

"Surtr's Breath" - the fifth and final E.P track opens with initial speed as heard through the double bass drums. The verses proceed with an angrier tone and the drums fully support this. At just prior to two minutes, the track slows and the guitars both arpeggiate through higher strings - and mute speedier thrash picking of the wound strings.  At three minutes-thirty seconds, the lead guitars begin to play a slow purported theme that repeats as the drums add a double bass feel until the song ends.