Dödsrit is a Swedish/Dutch quartet that already has four albums under their belt. Their fourth full-length album is called Nocturnal Will and is released by Wolves Of Hades and Argento Records. An album that bears an obi strip that mentions “Mournful Hymns Of Archaic Strength And Heroic Bloodshed.” Well, that’s a strong opener. The artwork looks really nice and reminds me of older paintings by Belgian artist Kris Verwimp. However, it turns out a person called Burney designed this excellent cover.
Another notable point is that Mr. Maxouris is involved in the recording process. Tis doesn’t come as a surprise, since he has done this many times before and this gentleman knows very well how to work those switches. Just listen to the work he did for the latest album by Verwoed, The Mother. Also, the entire sound passed through the Fascination Street Studios and The Atomic Garden, and that is something you can hear very well.
Like a raging storm, the album starts with an impressive melodic whirlwind called Irjala. These last recent months, I’ve heard quite a few epic guitar sections, but the first bars of this track really surpass everything. It’s delightful to hear how, in the further course of this song, the guitars engage in a dialogue while the bass lines gurgle firmly underneath them and the drums drag everything along in a clear but oh so filthy way, reaching incredible tempos. Fortunately, there is also some time for contemplation. A kind of reflection which these gentlemen already showed on their previous albums. Those contemplative parts have a certain post-black and blackgaze feel to them, which fits wonderfully into the brutal black metal onslaught.
Nocturnal Fire, on the other hand, has a rather punk/crust-like approach, a welcome change between the blast themes, melodic twin leads, and pearl-like solos! The song features some dynamic, stirring drum parts and abrasive vocal harmonies. The remainder of the album is hard to summarize. You’re heroically thrown from the one battlefield into the another. Sometimes it gets wild and sometimes some time is needed to take care of the wounded, count and bury the dead, straighten your back, and move on. As Death Comes Reaping musically frames the above train of thought.
A truly majestic masterpiece, this Nocturnal Will, album number four of Dödsrit. It’s a melodic black metal whirlwind of the purest kind: the kind of album that has already conquered everything after a single listen and leaves you orphaned. Nothing more to add, nothing to change, absolutely fine as it is! Mandatory purchase and definitely material for our year lists!
Score:
90/100
Label:
Wolves Of Hades/Argento Records, 2024
Tracklisting:
- Irjala
- Nocturnal Fire
- Ember And Ash
- Utmed Gyllbergens Stig
- As Death Comes Reaping
- Celestial Will
Line-up:
- Christoffer Oster – Vocals, guitars
- Jelle Soolsma – Bass
- Brendan Duffy – Drums
- Georgios Maxouris – Guitars
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