Dödsvisioner (2008) pulls a kind of blackened and grim metal that did put me off when I first listened to it. It's a weird presentation, as if looking at a lego structure built from pieces that don't exactly fit, but does look solid enough from a distance. It grows on you, like being infatuated with a person whose beauty isn't quite evident at first, and when you're tangled and bound you realize it's the very off-putting characteristics which pushed you away at first that are now what pulls you in.
It's heavy as it is hard. Doënde, the opening piece, is pretty straightforward as far as black metal goes - and I like it very much, what with the head-bangingly rythm and the haunting organ samples - but all along the album you'll see it mutate and grow in all of these shapes, long and calm instrumental segments bridging emotional outbursts. It all ties in that off-putting way, with remarkable skill and fluidity. Ondkall is a great example of the in-and-out, up-and-down, conflicting nature of Dödsvisioner, though the full (barely) 60 minute long experience is a testament to that idea, the concept of a conflicted mind, of conflicted emotions, put into song.
I could also point out to Den svarta angstens essens for the same reasons, or the long drawn instrumental of Det man med själen... or Ekot av bikt, but you get my point. Dödsvisioner weaves a sinuous blend of emotion all throughout. There are rythm breaks, heavy distortion; there is relaxation, whispering and post-rocky segments; there's despaired screaming. There's also a nice complete feel to the album too and I have very often found myself surprised when Doënde was on again, as the album went a full loop. I wasn't familiar with Bergraven, so this was certainly an exciting find.
Check it out:
This is one of a series of reviews I'm making for albums that I've ordered from Hydra Head Industries a while back. Might as well, right? I'll pick from those I enjoy as I listen through the collection.
