Djevel - Dødssanger

DJEVEL - Dødssanger (AFTERMATH - LP 2011)

Did someone say that Norwegian black metal is dead? Yeah, right. Live your pitiful life. I personally think that it always had something great to offer. Even when old bands started to change (and some became a lousy parody), there were newer acts, which raised the flag. Whether we speak of Urgehal, Taake, Tsjuder, 1349, Koldbrann, Orcustus, many bands based around Trondheim - there's always something great coming up from this country. For me personally Djevel came up with some of the most obligatory and absolutely best black metal since ages. Since ever, actually! If I was going to give you a band, which I think composed albums that are equally good to your black metal classics from Norway, then along Taake it would be Djevel. And their debut LP "Dødssanger" is a fantastic start if you want to check out their music. 

Technically speaking, Djevel music is very close to Taake's. There is the same style of riffage, which would combine (early) Satyricon’s majesty, bit of Kampfar and that Darkthrone'ish or Burzum'esque harshness with killer, epic and damn memorable melodies. There are similar arrangements, production and the atmosphere is equally cold and grim. But their compositions and execution are just spotless. Yes, everything about this record is just superb and my feelings are just exactly the same, which I had when I first listened to "Hordaland Doedskvad" or "Noregs Vaapen". These guys have such a great touch for creating this mesmerizing and blood freezing feeling. And for these great vicious riffs and eerie harmonies. I know how cliché it sounds, but you could really use this music for a soundtrack to your lonely walks through the cold, snow-covered woods. It just works bloody well there. 

But what else can I write... Well, "Dødssanger" is very well balanced, there's not even a second of monotony on this record, I think. The tempo varies from slow to fast as often as possible, even within one song, the riff style is also changing, from typical Darkthrone'ish stuff to that Taake's like grim, yet so damn catchy, sometimes almost folky melodies (like some parts of “Djevelheim” and the small instrumental piece "Djevelslått", which both really reminds me old Satyricon). I sometimes feel like vocals have secondary meaning here, as they do not appear in the standard "verse / chorus" formula, letting the music speak in the first place, what deepens the cold, mesmerizing feel of these songs. I like it that way, because you appreciate all these fantastic riffs even more. And the simplistic, yet good looking artwork completes the album. It's not my favourite in Djevel discography, but they have no weak records.  

Standout tracks: “Djevelheim”, “Paakallelsen” 

Verdict: 90/100