There's something inherently satisfying about well-thought-out album covers which immediately let you know what you're in for. And this is exactly the case with "Arkivet": the artwork instantly stands out. Radiant, understated, bleak, and highly unusual in the Metal scene. But this is so fitting, as it quintessentially describes WORMWOOD themselves. This underground Swedish band has been evolving more in the direction of Post Black over the years, and this latest release is no exception. "Arkivet" is nothing if not a careful amalgamation of a host of influences, resulting in a beautifully faceted album which is just a pleasure to listen to, from start to end.

The album, the name of which is Swedish for "The Archive" launches straight into the eponymous first song: desolate, despairing, dystopian, and despondent. The music video for this song is structured loosely around the novel "The Archive" by Mikael Strömberg, and paints a glimpse of a reality that comes uncomfortably close to that which we have recently faced, albeit spun a little further. Here, we see a family struggling to survive the collapse of the post-pandemic Swedish nation, before finally succumbing to the inevitable. By comparison to this, "Overgrowth" seems almost positive and upbeat, despite carrying on the lyrical theme of how mankind is destroying not only the earth, but consequently themselves as well. The searing beauty of "End of Message" takes the tempo down a bit, delicately weaving an intricate and filigree soundscape that ebbs and flows, shimmering between hopelessness and soaring grandeur. In contrast, "My Northern Heart" takes on a more Folky feel, giving wings to the expansive and unconstrained mood of the song. WORMWOOD do not shy away from using "softer" sections to enhance the hyper-emotionality of some of their songs, allowing atmospheres like loneliness and melancholy to blossom out of their music, especially on songs such as "Ensamheten" and "End of Message". This will undoubtedly lead some dismiss "Arkivet" out-of-hand, as will the Rock elements hidden throughout the album. For example, the opening of "The Slow Drown" is a pure work of art, with a lugubrious guitar section that would not have been out of place on a PINK FLOYD album. However, it is exactly these elements which make "Arkivet" as unusual and interesting as it is. Finally, we have the ironically titled "The Gentle Touch of Humanity", in which one last frenetic song takes us swirling into the abyss, and leaving us wondering where the last 45 minutes went.

It has been well over a year since I have given an album full points, but then again "Arkivet" is an exceptional album. What really stands out is how multi-faceted and layered the songs are; each listen reveals yet another aspect. Whilst I hate drawing comparisons between bands, I couldn't help but think of PRIMORDIAL whilst listening to "Arkivet". Not because of stylistic similarities between the bands in terms of the music they play, but because both use their music to express critical opinions both of our past and our future. They both do so in a way that is fearlessly their own, carving their own niches, completely unfettered by the well-defined borders of the Black Metal genre. But don't listen to me, check out this hard-hitting yet radiant album for yourself. "Arkivet" is currently available for pre-order through WORMWOOD's bandcamp page, as well as through their record label, Black Lodge Records. Stunning transparent white, marbled silver/white, and black vinyl editions are also available for collectors, and come complete with "The Archive" novella. A definite must-have.