Review by Vanass on April 4, 2020.

Stridslysten is one of the best black metal releases of 2019. It is the full-length album of the Swedish band Skald in Veum, which I hope there will be many more of in the future. All in all, it is a significant improvement of the band's sound and technical skills compared to their EP 1260 Days, which admittedly were never bad from the beginning.

The opening and title track 'Stridslysten' simply impresses the listener with aggressive and absurdly fast riffs that we all love, with strong groovy elements in the further course of the song, all accompanied by very pleasant blast beats. It's exactly what you would expect from Swedish black metal, but this track exceeds even the most optimistic expectations with raw energy and incredible speed and sets the tone and atmosphere for the rest of the album. Most of the riffs on the whole album are played in fast tempo and are very atmospheric, but still remain in the domain of classic black metal. Of course, there are also some slower parts like the middle part of my favorite track 'As Wolves Among Sheep', which are only used to build up the atmosphere, but what really stands out are the black'n'roll riffs that pop up every now and then. The sound of the guitars is relatively clean due to the only slightly raw production. At least in the studio version, the drums sound incredible and fit perfectly to the music with inhuman precision. I don't doubt that with enough discipline and a healthy work ethic such a level of technical skill can be achieved, but Resh is credited for both the guitars and the drums, so I'm almost convinced that the drums or at least some parts of them have been programmed. This shouldn't bother anyone, because the composition as a whole is a masterpiece of modern black metal. If my doubts about Resh's drumming skills turn out to be wrong, I have to apologize to him personally. The bass was played by Zhajiin. Compared to their previous release, the bass sound is still strong, but a little weaker. One thing I love about this band is the fact that despite the strong atmospheric side of their music they still manage to sound "heavy", all thanks to Zhajiin's bass.

The overall atmosphere is dark and just full of rage. The lyrics are radical in the sense of modern norms and represent a way of thinking that I can definitely support and understand. Heth, probably the most mysterious figure in the whole unblack metal scene, was responsible for the lyrics, which still surprise me in a good way. I just hope that their message and their music will reach a wider audience in the future.

This band represents exactly what modern black metal bands sound and should be; orthodox black metal, fueled by pure anger about existing social norms and supported by strong ideals, capable of creating new musical landscapes on old foundations.

Rating: 10 out of 10