SVARTGHAST was
born in 2017 when feature members of SETHERIAL and THE CITADEL
joined forces to create a symphonic black metal act with old
school roots. SVARTGHAST's riffs are powerful, catchy and revive
the fire of those glorious 90's of Swedish black metal with
freshness of today. There are 8 tracks in this release with a
duration of 38 minutes where the listener will be able to let
their imagination fly through cold forests, dark and apocalyptic
visions.
The first song
is the name given to this album, “Perdition” begins with
a somber piano arpeggio (remind us of the film The Exorcist from
1973), orchestral bases will quickly be added and everything
will be thrown into a supreme black metal…! Arriving at minute
03:00, the track makes a change and becomes a darker and more
brutal spectrum.
"Into The
Void" is rests on very symphonic bases, it is increasing in
intensity and the orchestrations will be very protagonists in
the way of LIMBONIC ART. The demonic voices alternate between
bass - treble and the ending will fade over your atmosphere.
With
aggressiveness and feeling of the golden 90's he starts “Beyond
The Veil Of Mist”, the longest song on this album, memorable
rhythms with incessant vertigo, and also reminds of bands like
DARK FUNERAL (old) averaging the second half. The work on the
double vocals is very efficient and everything sounds flawless,
evidencing a great production here as in the entire album. It is
a true tribute to the darkness of yesteryear and one of the best
songs of this debut.
In fourth place
comes "The Black Wraith Acends" with its terrifying atmosphere,
a sinister instrumental that looks like the soundtrack of some
dark movie.
The enigmatic
first sounds of “On Dark Wings They Soar” are reminiscent
of songs like “Towards The Phanteon” by EMPEROR from In The
Nigthside…., But then it will take a turn towards DIMMU BORGIR
and like a huge beast, the song will expel its infernal fury.
The track will go through many well thought out changes and its
melodies are magnificent. Again the golden age of Swedish Black
metal is represented here.
The most
ruthless start is for "The Presage Of Eternal Fire" that
explodes in our eardrums and will have an epic and majestic exit
in its transit.
The
orchestrations begin again "The Fall Of The First", the
most symphonic and calm song of this debut. Nostalgic and
soulful, with a successful guitar solo and a clean voice like
the tenor of a classical opera. A jewel for us.
Have they saved
the best for last? It's not easy to be sure of this, but
“Luciferian Dawn” was the first single to be released before
this debut full-length, with the essence of SETHERIAL and it's a
perfect ending to this impeccable album by the Swedish duo.
More than a
debut album, "Perdition" seems like a consecrated album by a
band with decades of existence. The union between Choronzon (Göran
Setitus) and Azazel (Erik Sjögren) is not a minor thing, and it
was cause - consequence for SVARTGHAST can build a quality black
metal, powerful and elegant.The record also with the special
invitation of Memnock (ABYSSIC) and Mishbar Bovmeph (MEPHORASH)
doing additional voices.
The cover art
is a painting by the Hungarian artist Mihály Zichy titled “A
kísértetek órája” which means something like “The Hour of the
Ghosts” painted in the late 1800s.
The album was
released through Dusktone on November 27 on Digipack CD +
booklet , 12"LP black vinyl, 12" LP limited edition
colored vinyl and digital format.
Fabio Z.
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