Iceland. It’s an attractive place, one I very a lot hope to go to sometime. Its identify alone conjures photographs of rugged volcanic landscapes, scorching springs, waterfalls, black sand seashores, midnight solar, and historical Viking ships crusing throughout a half-frozen fjord beneath the aurora borealis. Though it’s a visually gorgeous place, it can be totally inhospitable for many who are unprepared for the challenges it presents, and that stark distinction additionally serves as the right metaphor for Tálgröf, the latest providing from Reykjavik-based blackened dying duo Helfró. 

Proper from the get-go we’re thrown right into a maelstrom of livid tremolo riffing and spastic stop-and-go blast beats because the opening monitor “Jarteikn” hits the bottom operating with zero hesitation, and that ferocity doesn’t let up till the final chord of the ultimate tune has rung out simply over half an hour later. Tálgröf is an assault on the senses in one of the simplest ways doable, a nonstop barrage designed to maintain the listener on their again foot the whole time, and one that’s properly price enduring.

Regardless of the seemingly endless wall of sound, there’s loads of finesse to be discovered right here. For one factor, the manufacturing is crisp and crystal clear, which significantly accentuates the hermetic musicianship of each Ragnar Sverrisson and Simon Thorolfsson and permits one thing this persistently fast-paced to stay digestible. I personally wish to have heard a pinch extra bass within the combine, however that possible simply boils down to private desire, and admittedly that would even have muddied issues up a bit. 

One other element which works strongly of their favor is that the songs by no means outstay their welcome, with a most runtime of simply over 5 minutes on the exceedingly atmospheric “Guðlegt Réttlæti”. Velocity and ferocity are all properly and good however they’ll additionally get outdated quick if not tempered and offset with one thing else, so the earlier you will get to the purpose the higher off everybody can be. To that finish, Helfró have accomplished a fantastic job of peppering within the occasional dying metallic groove as properly, giving the album a definite and intensely satisfying swagger when wanted. If the opening Deicide-esque riffs within the single “Fláráð Fræði” don’t make you begin bobbing your head and pulling a face like somebody simply ripped a ripe scorching fart in an elevator, are you actually even a metallic head?

Merely put, Tálgröf is a excessive octane, extraordinarily entertaining album which does a fantastic job of capturing the tough great thing about the Icelandic panorama in sonic kind. The guitars lower just like the biting winds of a blizzard whereas the drums rumble and burst like a pyroclastic move, and all of that chaos comes collectively to supply one thing each placing and vivid. Helfró have accomplished their nation proud with this one, firmly cementing themselves as a drive to be reckoned with within the realm of blackened dying metallic. Right here’s hoping that momentum continues, as a result of if it does then the long run seems to be very shiny for a band that spends an excellent portion of their 12 months shrouded in full darkness. 

Tálgröf is accessible on Friday, December 1 by way of Season of Mist Information. You’ll be able to preorder your copy at this time.