From their EPK, “After an initial flurry of activity in 2005, SVARTELDER largely remained dormant until founder and front man Doedsadmiral, decided to reactivate the project with an infusion of new blood in the shape of vastly experienced musicians who have taken the band's original old-school Norwegian Black Metal roots and contributed their own individual styles to broaden the whole sound and take it in new directions. Interestingly, the musicians themselves have chosen to use different names for their work in SVARTELDER, something that allows them to explore new avenues without any pre-conceptions and expectations from fans that may arise because of their previous bodies of work. Aside from Doedsadmiral on vocals, the rest of the lineup comprises Tjalve on bass and guitars, Spektre on drums.”

The album has seven songs, and “Psychotic Symphony” is first. The production is fairly muted but the sounds is diverse…aggressive at times and a bit more thoughtful at others, but always, a harrowing sound hangs there for the taking. “I Give the Stranger a Sign” is darker and even more aggressive, but the backing landscape continues to shift…at times with a straightforward Thrash riff and others with all of the fanfare that comes with Black Metal. “Touch This Norwegian Finger” is almost like a dare of sorts…touch it, and see what happens, or, in the vernacular, fuck around and find out. It’s a slow moving song with plenty of harrowing elements. “This Forgiving Isolation” move a little faster, and melodies poke through the dark clouds unexpectedly. It just shows another side of this band’s diversity.

“As All Ends…” moves with a more commanding sound, especially in the vocals, and the album takes a darker and more somber tone. The bass work here is excellent, and the background thickens up. “…with Death” is the shortest on the album, perhaps because one’s time with the entity would be very short lived. The dragging sound pairs very well with the title. “In the Trenches” closes the album, and it’s all of your worst fears wrapped up in a contentious package of both anger and despair. Overall, this was a diverse plate of Black Metal with a lot to offer fans, and I love how this traditional band reinvented itself to modern times, throwing the blueprint out the window and forging their own path in the genre. There are some nice surprises here as well.