Review by Jeger on July 23, 2024.

As the inexperienced Norwegian underground hordes scramble to release the next "Transylvanian Hunger", the veterans quietly unleash cutting edge, balls-to-the-wall black metal that homages those first pure days to a certain degree, but ultimately through barriers and into modernity do they trespass. Nordjevel ring a bell? So, that’s why I’m confused… This is a supposed take on early 90's BM? I guess if it sounds like black metal, it automatically sounds like early 90's black metal. Anyway, annoying promo, but an interesting and a pretty CONTEMPORARY Norwegian black metal record is Svartelder's forthcoming third effort, Trenches, set to drop on August 2, 2024 via Soulseller.

Fronted by one Doedsadmiral, most notorious as the frontman for Nordjevel and backed by apparently disguised BM royalty in Tjalve (guitars, bass) and Spektre (Drums), Svartelder have been quite modest in regard to notoriety, and have left the music to speak for them. How very black metal… With Trenches, Svartelder embrace the essence of true Norwegian black metal in the vein of Taake, Gehenna and Kampfar: the mystifying twang of the guitars and the bewildering nature of every abstract composition as if each track was written by Gamle Erik himself. All of this paired with some early Tectonic Big 4 (German thrash metal Big 4: Kreator, Destruction, Sodom, Tankard) influence; resulting in a crossover black metal album of dynamic proportions.

The opening seconds to 'Psychotic Symphony' - the catalyst to incurring sonic chaos - technicality unparalleled and all phases dialed into the red before tranquil melancholy in the form of enchanting guitar arrangements set to a myriad of rhythmic patterns ensues. Unpredictability the MO here and rightfully accomplished. The final half of Trenches is dedicated to death - the bitterest end as lain out before us in the form of 'As All Ends…', 'With Death…' and 'In The Trenches' - two wretched, slow-burning dirges that dredge up from the lowliest mires of the psyche one’s final descent into absence of life, just before one last flash of the steel in the last as another obnoxious crescendo unfolds.

The thrill of anticipating which sort of bizarre grotesquery might come next is what keeps your attention here. Like a Norwegian black metal salad is Trenches: each chaotic part crudely bolted to the next, total disharmony and just all over the place. Some tasty riffs peppered throughout, but ultimately an album to put back on the shelf, possibly for good. It should sound like music and not just a bunch of slop rhythms, abstract arrangements and Golem-getting-castrated vocals, right? Not the best use of such viable talents. As I put in "Transylvanian Hunger"…

Rating: 6 out of 10