Kryptan - Official Website
Violence, Our Power |
Sweden
|
---|
Review by Michael on January 28, 2025.
Kryptan is the new black metal baby by Mattias Norrman and Alexander Högbom who just released a fantastic death-doom album with their other band Moondark. Apart from that both are active in October Tide and Mattias, you might know one or the other from his engagement in Katatonia. They are joined in strength by guest vocalists Mikael Hanni (Disrupted) and Nox (Craft). Guitarist Simon Wizen (Valkyrja, Marduk) also participates with an extremely furious solo. You see, the guys aren't any newbies and probably know how to write good music. Do they? Fuck, yes, they know. Also with Kryptan, they offer some really good sounding stuff that doesn't need to hide behind any big names of the black metal scene.
With one EP in 2021 and two singles from the upcoming debut Violence, Our Power the band isn't the newest one in town. It is more still a hidden gem that was discovered by Edged Circle Productions, a cool little label from Norway which has some bigger fishes like Yoth Iria or Asagraum on its hook, too.
What the listener finds here is some dense atmospheric black metal. Starting with a sinister intro , the first riff blows you away like a chilly winter storm. Sometimes the music is very harsh and cold, sometimes there is some smooth and light stuff to find (like in the first song with the friendly title "I Hope They Die"). The aim with this release is pretty clear: evoke some good old feelings while walking through some dark, snow-covered foggy woods that make you shiver. Or like the press info tells (and I think this hits the spot): "Heavily inspired by the 90s era of Norwegian and Swedish black metal, life and the crushing darkness of Swedish winters, he created enthralling songs bursting with sinister energy and craftsmanship. Kryptan aim to take listeners back in time and celebrate a glorious musical legacy in a contemporary fashion."
Vocals especially remind me of some 90s wrecking ball black metal like Zyklon B's EP "Blood Must Be Shed" – ferocious and hateful, with a lot of (sorry for the pun) violence and power. Also the drums are really thunderous and with furious rage and even though it is black metal there are a lot of classic heavy metal vibes shining through when you listen to the guitars.
Another point that makes the album rush through the only 26 minutes running time are the alternating parts, suddenly there are some atmospheric keyboards and a few seconds later you hear some rapid Bathory-riffs like in "Det Är Döden Som Krävs"). A lot of that majestic atmosphere makes me think of good old Satyricon, Emperor or the first Gehenna album (plus EP). But this doesn't mean that this song is one outstanding track because the songs are just like some exquisite Belgian chocolate, they all taste (or better sound) excellent.
Kryptan did a really good job with their song writing. Here is nothing that is used too much and nothing that one might miss. And if you had a look on metal-archives and wonder about the running time (just like I did), it has a running time of about 40 minutes, not 26. Actually I thought it would be true and while listening to “Violence, Our Power” you really get the feeling that time is running fast. I guess this is the best what can happen while listening to an album.
Rating: 9 out of 10
209Views