VERWOED is a one man black metal project from the Netherlands who formed in 2014 as WOUDLOPER but changed to their current moniker in 2015. As WOUDLOPER, they released one EP and a single; as VERWOED, “The Mother'' is their third full-length album and they have also released an EP. Erik B (UUR, ex Dresden/Leningrad) is the mastermind behind the music. This is my first VERWOED album so I wasn’t sure what to expect other than it being black metal but this is a pleasant surprise. The album has a lot of depth and provides more than enough details to keep wanting to visit it over and over. The seven songs run together, one after the other, so it is best listened from beginning to end as if it is one long song. I assume that was Erik's intentions. It works well as one long song, regardless of its meaning to be one or not.

The album’s production is on the raw side of the blackened line but not overly. It is much slower, at times, and methodical than I thought it would be—good, that is the kind of music I crave. “The Mother” isn’t an album that will have an immediate payoff—this one needs time to sink in. It washes over things, envelopes them, rather than a full frontal audio assault. The album begins with “A Prayer of Blood and Fire,” which basically acts as the opening intro although it’s over four minutes long. It has a mysterious vibe with a little danger to it as well. It builds up the album very well. The title track arrives as the prelude ends with a harrowing blackened scream and dismal atmospheric riffs. The vibe is smoky and hazy, like looking into a never before seen ritual. The tempo speeds up quite a bit while the screams lead the charge of the music pushing through. The middle is surprisingly psychedelic, a sort of trippy hell where everything I think I know is not only wrong but doesn’t even matter.

“The Madman’s Dance,” begins with clean notes mixing with the heavier aspects before all hell breaks through. This song is smooth and seamless despite its abrasive nature—floodgates open and all this nightmarish stuff just comes pouring out. The faster parts are just melodic enough to grab my ear. Should a song like this be this catchy? Sure, why not. The song growls more and more depraved and out there as the second tick by. The guitar solo is a nice touch and integrates itself well into the fabric of the ending. The final song, “Death In A Rosary,” is a final dirge that ends the album on a fantastic high. This song is dark, grime and sprawls out like some sort of miasma. The last few minutes are a darkly beautiful clean/ambient piece that pairs well with the song’s nasteri first half despite the difference in approach.

All in all, VERWOED’s “The Mother,” is an unique album by a musician that clearly has an unique vision. This interesting piece of blackened storytelling is well worth your time no matter what type of metal you are into.