Band: Kvaen
Album: The Formless Fires
Genre: Black Metal / Pagan / Viking Metal
Country: Sweden
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Released: June 21st, 2024
Introduction
Kvaen is a pagan black Metal band from Norbotten, Sweden. They play their own furious style of a melodic death metal infused black metal brew. Not to be mistaken with the style of Behemoth for example as they are very true with their own style which sounds just perfect to my ears. I am more than happy and excited to know I will be witnessing them live at Karmoygeddon 2025.
The Formless Fires
Hard hitting melodic black metal with a clear headliner potential:
Tracklist:
- The Formless Fires
- Traverse the Nether
- Tornets Sång
- The Ancient Gods
- Basilisk
- De Dödens Sång
- The Perpetual Darkness
- The Wings of Death
The first song and title track starts with a very groovy intro for about some short 15 seconds before going into a melodic tremolo picked nightmare with haunting vocals. Full speed, full hardness on end. Needless to say very enjoyable for every black/death metal enthusiast. The solo is really solid pushing over the same groove as in the intro leaving nothing left to be wished for.
Traverse the Nether with the great support of the legendary swedish black death mastermind Sebastian Ramstedt of Necrophobic goes as hard as you could imagine. No slow start up just pure tremolo blastbeat heresy before finding the grooviness in the verse. The vocals are just pure armageddon and the guitar work is blissful filth backed up by a sold rhythm section, btw, holy f*ck that solo is awesome, the entire song is incredible.
Tornets Sång has a very specific black’n’roll esque vibe to it and a band like Satyricon comes to mind. On this song a bit of choir or synth is also introsdused which pushes the vocals into an even more extreme soundscape. A very well written epos of a song, the only plausible way to describe it if you ask me.
The closing track The Wings of Death kicks off with a ridiciolous crushing drum intro before heading into a more melodic direction. Keep in mind to not trust the melodic approach as you will be hit with a tremolo and a shrieking aural inferno of a song. It stays melodic but with a hard edge to it that I’ve not encountered very often, a fitting strong end to a well written and performed record.
Conclusion
A perfect example of melodic heaviness that for sure needs to find its competitors. Definetly a masterpiece in regards to the guitar work. Well structured songs, crazy vocals and a lot more that you definetly need to check out for yourself. Whats more to say except: Tack så mycket KVAEN.
BMZ Rating: 8/10
8 – Very Good: An impressive album that rises above many others. It features innovative ideas, captivating lyrics or excellent musicianship that makes it stand out.
Support Kvaen here: https://kvaenblacklion.bandcamp.com/album/the-formless-fires
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