Review: Black Birch – Black Birch

Introduction

After hearing just ten seconds into the first song, Weak, I knew I had to cover the entire album. When it begins I often ask myself, what is most conspicuous, as it tends to set the mood for the next couple of hours. Some bands goes for the epic 3 minute intro, some bands forgo it altogether and get right to the action, both of these ideas have merit, but neither is universally ideal. Here we know exactly what we’re in for and it’s in your face immediately. With a runtime of 1 hour and 6 minutes, I’ll focus on a few standout tracks and share my overall thoughts.

The album

Tracks Two & Three: Fallen and Scour are two standout tracks that complement each other while offering different experiences. Fallen builds on the atmosphere of Weak, starting with a somber, clean guitar intro that transitions into a cold, tremolo-picked riff over a relentlessly powerful drum groove. There are plenty of switch-ups in this one and many of them I interpreted as reflecting the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. I’ve listened to this one a lot.

Scour, meanwhile, takes that intensity and channels it into something epic. It’s a big, bold track that feels like a rallying cry, with a mix of emotions that never disappoint. The emo and shoegaze vibes add layers, making it a song that pulls you in and keeps you engaged as it unfolds.

Bio

The duo of Gina Wiklund from Gasp and Ulf Blomberg of Palmless formed Black Birch, blending their hardcore, crust punk, and post-metal roots with atmospheric black metal to create a distinctive sound. Both are incredibly skilled multi-instrumentalists, bringing a creative, emotional depth to their music. Ulf, who has spent years honing his craft as a producer at Sweden’s HoboRec studio, brings a polished yet raw edge to the production, allowing the band’s sound to retain its intensity while exploring more progressive and atmospheric elements. Together, Gina and Ulf’s unique backgrounds and creative synergy make this album stand out, weaving themes of personal struggle, societal issues, and nature into their works.

Back to the album

Tracks Five, Seven, & Ten: Prey stands out with its dark, gothic melody that threads through the entire song, creating an unnerving atmosphere. It’s one of my favorites structurally, the several well-crafted bridges kept me engaged. The song instills a sense of looming power that never lets up! Havoc opens with a dark and frightening intro, channeling pure evil. It blends post-hardcore (kind of) and emo (more so) influences with a progressive edge. This kind of structure, whether it’s throughout a project or residing in one to two songs in the form of a bridge or something… it’s depressing at times but a compelling musical experience.

Desolate breaks up the album’s intensity with eerie clean guitar parts and somber, haunting vocals. This song was unexpected but it was a welcomed surprise. The slower melody and the shift from sadness to acceptance then a maniacal tone creates a creepy atmosphere. At 4:20, the track plunges you back into chaos, with clean vocals buried in an instrumental section and from this I get a sense of fear and desperation.

Favorite Song: It’s a close call between Fallen and the final track, Lights. I ultimately decided against writing about Lights as it’s one you need to experience for yourself. I think it is the perfect closer, and that’s all I have to say.

Conclusion

My first thought was that this album “sounds like the forest feels.” It is heavy, but blended well with an intensity and atmosphere that stands out. This is not an album that lays everything out neatly or sticks to one formula; however, it keeps you on edge, pulls you in with its unpredictability from track to track. There’s something here for everyone. If I had to compare it I’d say it has the mystique and harshness of The Somberlain by Dissection while towing a line of structure and polish of something like Arson from Harakiri for the Sky.

BMZ Rating: 9/10

Support Black Birch here: https://blackbirch.bandcamp.com/album/black-birch-2

What do you think of Black Birch

Do you like it or hate it? You can share your opinion on our social media channels, or join us on discord, where we discuss all things black metal! Make sure to follow our Facebook page, Black Metal Zine, to receive notifications when we publish articles. Also check out our Instagram at @blackmetal.zine for concert pictures and more! And if you’d like to, you can also submit your review of an album you like.