Band: Svarttjern
Album: Draw Blood
Genre: Black Metal
Country: Norway
Label: Soulseller Records
Released: 6th of December 2024
Introduction
We start off this review with a question. Does Svarttjern need and introduction or not? The answer should be no for all of you, but then again, some do live under a rock and for those cavemen or women I’ll make an introduction to this band.
So here it goes cave people, Svarttjern has been around for 21 years as the band started in 2003, but their first full album was released in 2009 and that album, Misanthropic Path of Madness, is a masterpiece (according to me). It’s an album that just grabs you by the throat and never let’s go. That is a good base for the follow-up albums, which are all great, although the second album is the lesser one of all the albums released so far.
This new album Draw Blood is their sixth full album, and it took them 4 years to conjure this album into existence. Their latest album Shame is Just a Word was a great album, but for me personally, the other albums never toppled their first album. So let’s see if the sixth one manages to do just that.
Draw Blood
When you name an album Draw Blood, you mean business, that’s for sure. But first some details, the new album features 10 tracks with a run time of 39 minutes. With the 9th track being a cover of a Rolling Stones song.
Tracklist:
- Determination
- Follow Through
- Draw Blood
- Don’t Contain Your Lust
- Erect Your Congregation
- Lick My Flesh
- Chop, Slit, Flay
- Aluminium Bat Domina
- Under My Thumb (Rolling Stones cover)
- Sin, Offer, Obey
As said, the first album is one of my all-time favourites and I was eagerly awaiting the release of this album. Draw Blood sounds like you mean to business, and I can confirm they do mean that.
This fact becomes obvious, when you listen to the third track of the album Draw Blood, it’s fast-paced with great vocals and some killer riffs in it. It’s a complete package overall, and it shows what the intention is behind this album, at least it does for me.
On the other side, this album also has a bit of a black ‘n roll vibe to it, which is most clear on the eight track of the album, Aluminium Bat Domina. That track starts off with a nice groove and that remains hearable throughout the rest of the track and if you back track to the rest of the songs you can hear that vibe mixed through almost all the songs.
So this album, for me, is a bit two-faced, it’s fast-paced, but also a mid more tempered, it doesn’t topple the first album from its throne for me, but it’s a good album overall. The vocals of Hans Fryste are great as always and for me, that is one of the high lights of this album (and all the other albums for that matter).
With that being said, it’s time we draw blood by giving our conclusion…
Conclusion
Draw blood is a good album, undoubtedly. The songs are good and the vocals and the instrumental work are of a high level. As being said, it doesn’t topple the first album from its throne for me, but that doesn’t matter. It’s a great continuation of the previous works.
They are on my wish list to see live, since I haven’t had the opportunity yet, and I hope that will happen soon. But now it’s time for the rating;
BMZ Rating: 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.
Your opinion on Draw Blood by Svarttjern
You can support the band here: https://soulsellerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/draw-blood
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