Review by Jeger on June 8, 2026.

Across centuries of time and o'er enchanted lands forlorn has our journey through the annals of Black Metal history brought us. Here, now, on this eve of joining, of dark forces wrought and rendered over dually do we prepare for lore, for magick and for evils of the ancient kind. The veil that separates our world from that of great spirits of yore is thinning now as we approach the sound of their voices calling out from somewhere beyond Assiah. The voices of Norway's Enevelde and Gjendød as they've come together under the prestigious banner of Terratur Possessions for a split LP release, "Elegier Fra Avgrunnen", set for a June 6 unveiling. And it's time for a clinic in true Norwegian Black Metal…

You can't just decide one day as a musician that you're going to start writing true Black Metal for shits and gigs… In order for true BM to be made, there must be passion, there must be an organic understanding of the value of rebellion, of evil and of the way of the adversary. The Norwegian school has always proven stalwart in every such facet. Across eight salt-of-the-earth album cuts, Enevelde and Gjendød draw from the depths of the land a most enthralling volume of Mörk, Kampfar and Taake-reveling BM that explores the oft-unforgiving Norse landscapes along with ghastly tales of unseen but legendary forces that go bump in the night, darkness and evil, Townsfolk in the grip of hysteria and packaged so classily in modest yet impactful cover art. Alive with the rustic beauty of the language and the feeling of trueness, of genre nobility to rouse from within a sense of pride in the scene and in being one who stands under the Sign of the Black Mark.

This is the split you want. Not some crumby B-Side cuts and some demo track from Ancient times. Two prominent collectives coming together under the olde spirit of personal development through shared artistic expression, and the result is the striking opener by Enevelde, "Ut Av Deg Selv" - a somber chants-driven intro pulls you in as would a Black Hole into a plush gauntlet of ethereal tremolo riffs and gentle ride-accented beats until the mania of genuine anguish-inspired BM ensues: driving the rhythms forward now underneath intrepid riffs as the vocal agony of a hundred years bellows off into an atmosphere that is alive with elements of all I've just mentioned but not in an overwhelming way. Class and wisdom incarnate in regard to recording: mixing, mastering and tonality. A sense of classicism intertwining with a clean contemporary thread in these bitter, downright dreadful moments of "Langt Fra Umaken Verdt". A deep melodic touch and a silver lining around the palpable gloom to create a sense of liberation from within what has felt suffocating during some parts thus far.

Gjendød kicks off the second half with "Verden Våkner" and the similarities between these two entities are striking but also are their differences. Where the former makes an impact on a more melodic front, Gjendød are deploying a heartier, groove-dominated approach. A bit whimsical even in its delivery like some lost Carpathian Forest deep cut and then flashing some melodic steel of their own. Rhys King (Advent Sorrow) worship? Not intentional but striking too are the similarities between KK's tones/delivery and Rhys'. The following track, "Dødsrikets Pinsler" delivers those same dreadful/depressive tones as Advent Sorrow but unmistakable is the true Norwegian heart & soul of it. Gjendød's half of the recording proved to be more textured and unpredictable whereas Enevelde's felt cozier, a little more familiar. The very best in both collectives was brought out and that's the idea. Two proud Black Metal forces, one true Underground Label.

This is why the Norwegian scene is arguably the finest. This is why we will always return to the Norwegian product - this distinct ethos - all of these many influences converging together but yet so Norse all the same. A celebration! This is why Black Metal is more than a mere genre of music; why some people don't deserve to listen to it; why the gates must be kept! All things precious should be safeguarded… Enjoy.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

Review by Michael on March 20, 2026.

Gluttony is one of the seven cardinal sins and a Swedish death metal band that has been active since 2009. Now they are back with their fourth full-length album "Eulogy To Blasphemy", and actually they don't sound as if they had an opulent meal while recording the album because they don't sound too lethargic because of too much food but still quite hungry and aggressive.

Kicking off with a short gloomy intro that lets you anticipate what is coming next when you have to build-up your new Ikea cupboard, the guys don't take any prisoners here but start cutting bones and ripping flesh instantly. Metaphorical only, of course. Although "All These Trees Are Gallows" starts like a decrepit zombie, this zombie soon transforms into a very quick, agile and juvenile one. And this is more or less the common thread on the album. Slower parts vary with mid-tempo and quite fast blast beat attacks like in "Hung From Entrails" which might be a very nice title for the next bungee jumping event anywhere. 

"Corpses Eating Corpses" is another track worth mentioning because of its hypnotizing pace. Finding a lot of typical HM-2 vibes here, the intermitting parts are something that is quite outstanding on the album. And in many parts (not only in this song) you can find a lot of Entombed and Dismember vibes. The same goes for the title track. Alone the line "We Walk The Left Hand Path" let you smile if you miss the good old 90s classics.

And with "A Haunting Wordless Choir" we all get reminded of one or another fantastic Bolt Thrower song. "World Eater" anyone? This is probably one of the fastest songs on "Eulogy To Blasphemy" and really kicks ass. Also the vocals are pretty sick and aggressive so this one is pure fucking death metal. By the way, vocalist Magnus Ödling was also the vocalist for Setherial in the mid-00s and for Diabolical in the early 00s so he is no dark horse in the scene anyway. 

And as a very cool festering topping the guys have covered "Burn" from one of my favorite King Diamond albums "The Eye". Instrumental-wise they don't differ too much from the original but the vocals give the track a very special ghoulish touch though. 

Talking a little bit about the production, it is very crunchy and saturated (here we come to the cardinal sin again) and sounds very powerful. The instruments sound well-balanced and the vocals, as I mentioned before, are really crisp. What isn't too cool either is the probably AI-generated artwork. Maybe the guys should have invested a little bit more love into that while all the other components that you need for a great album are sufficiently available.

If you like your death metal dry and humorless like a Wasa bread peppered with bone meal, "Eulogy To Blasphemy" is the right album to lighten up your day for sure.

Rating: 9 out of 10 fester and bone meal puddings