Fortið – Narkissos

Written by on 28-10-2023 at 18:27.

The Icelandic band Fortið is a regular at Zware Metalen. And since I visited their beautiful country this year and there is a life before and after this visit, I am happy to pick this Narkissos. No fewer than five reviews of previous albums have been published on this site. I will share these with you here: Völuspá Part III: Fall of the Ages, Pagan Prophecies, 9, The Demo Sessions, World Serpent.

Thematically, the band has drawn its inspiration from ancient Greek mythology this time. Narcissus, a hunter who fell in love with his own reflection, became Narkissos in a story that runs through the album. A narcissistic person who plays with people like pieces on a chessboard. But ultimately left alone and rejected in his twilight years…

What this band essentially does is mix black with pagan in the best Windir tradition, as you have already read in the previous reviews. In general, the approach and songwriting is also a bit lighter compared to other black metal bands. As a result, a term such as “contemporary music” is often used. The rock-like approach makes this band a bit easier to listen to at times. Although you should not be mistaking, because a song like Vefurinn sem ég spinn on the album to be discussed here has a fierce start. And after the clean harmony vocals, the flames go up by playing cutting black metal with fast drums and screeching vocals. Yet there are also plenty of breathing spaces with atmospheric passages that are effortlessly integrated within the various song structures. Epic and grandeur are the fixed values ​​that can be heard. A band like the Norwegian Enslaved is never far away. According to the attached promo, this album is definitely the best thing the band has released in its twenty years of existence.

In fifty-three minutes we hear nine songs. Fragments of black, death, thrash, but certainly also heavy metal are part of the listening experience. A musical journey par excellence, which does not always keeps hold of the attention. Some pieces feel a bit too long-winded for that. But we don’t have to doubt the craftsmanship for a moment, it is absolutely clear that the trio can make some music. A wonderful guitar solo during Rotinn arfur with a heavy metal approach is one of the many proofs of this. But it is a long record, this Narkissos. Is it perhaps because we have the feeling that the songs are less good individually than as a whole? Could be, but the fact remains that the whole thing has a somewhat cinematographic feel. A song like Illt skal með illu gjalda is very good, especially in terms of atmosphere and composition. There seems to be some singing stacked behind this, which makes the song sound a bit spooky. Would the main character in the story be teased? The title translates as “Evil will pay for evil”, so I wouldn’t be surprised. The more escapade in vocals and drums is also food for thought. Special and beautiful at the same time! The beautiful clean vocals add an extra touch to this already well-colored song.

Finally, I would like to highlight the last song with its long acoustic intro. After just under three minutes of build-up time we once again hear a high level of epic content. Solid work on the guitars and drums combined with the black metal vocals and ethereal chants. Towards the end the melodies are beautifully merged into one melancholic entity, with classic natural forces suddenly ending the record. Perhaps this Við dauðans dyr is still the most impressive song from Narkissos. These gentlemen present a beautiful, but above all epic black metal record that will be far too “narrative” and complex for one fan, while the other will enjoy it intensely. I myself lean a little more towards the middle, because with so many ideas and influences it takes some switching, but at the same time there is a lot to experience.

Score:

82/100

Label:

Lupus Lounge, 2023

Tracklisting:

  1. Narkissos
  2. Drottnari
  3. Vefurinn sem ég spinn
  4. Uppskera
  5. Þúsund þjáninga smiður
  6. Rotinn arfur
  7. Illt skal með illu gjalda
  8. Tímans ör
  9. Við dauðans dyr

Line-up:

  • Einar Thorberg Guðmundsson – Vocals, guitar, synthesizer
  • Kári Pálsson – Bass
  • Kristján Einar Guðmundsson – Drums

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