Once again the true veterans of the Finnish Black Metal scene have joined forces in a project named on their own: Vritrahn-Werwolf. What could we expect? Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication, something like that. As far as we know, both are well-known for their projects, like The True Werwolf and White Death. They need no introduction.
One thing I enjoyed is that every song is different from the other in certain way. The album doesn’t repeat itself, so we can see different faces of those who are the true main characters of the Finnish Black Metal scene. The songs have those aspects that we look for in true BM albums: primitive, minimalistic, primordial, but also, sophisticated, and not because of that less brutal than it should be expected.With the exception of the vocals that sound uniform, the sound varies and oscillates a lot, which gives us a menu of sensations as the album progresses. Crudeness and harmony are constant elements. “End of the Ages” immediately stuns with a punkish attitude, then the next “Silver Aurora” presents canonical fast black metal with a tremolo-picked riff over a blast beat. The cd shows a tremolo picking lick at 3:22 that is very Gorgoroth-like style, what is a good thing.
We also have some Mayhem” shit on “Lord of All Evil” kind of a “Freezing Moon”and I liked the palm-muted downstroke (2:35); And we got a Sarcófago tribute on ” “…To Perish in the Silence“, why not? We know Lauri has strong connections throughout South America (Iggor Cavalera? lol), on the other hand we have “”Death Torments” that sounds symphonic, full of arrangements, distant from the minimalism, but I think we have a little Satanic Warmaster here, I have to tell you and this track is a KILLER one with an Industrial noise ending. Disturbing.
We have the Nargaroth-style “Blasphemous Metal“, that is basically a riff and also sends a fucking message. Take it or leave-it! The almost spoken vocal in the track is an interesting element that contrasts with the incessant “FUCK YOU” sang in the chorus. And if you like a drag overdrive, this is for you! In ” “Sacrament” we have some power blasts that really suits the guitars, it works like a counterbalance I think, different from “Crucifucked (S.S.)” with that cacophony in the beginning, that flows right after in a rampage full of energy and true brutal metal in an Impaled Nazarene style, in its early years. FUCK! What a song! And if you survive and don’t get your ears pierced in some parts (0:56 and 2:22) you will enjoy the last breath of the album: “Starlight Throne of the Eclipse“
Gotta tell ya, “Starlight Throne of the Eclipse” could be a fucking cool Pagan Metal song. It would suit properly. This one contrasts to the whole album. It’s a diverse and wide album. And having these duo as key pieces is not difficult to expect a Black Metal class. Several techniques involved and mastery in the execution and choice of aggressive passages and even industrial or slower passages. The choice of the last track was a bold attempt to cast other eyes on the duo’s sound and creativity!
RATE: 666
