Svartsyn
Timeless Reign
Carnal Records 2007
Having had experience before with these Swedish masters of perpetual blackness I
knew the stark and barren piano intro was a going to set me up for the strike of
overwhelmingly intense and raw black metal. With Timeless Reign I think
that Svartsyn has bested themselves and this album represents their most
accomplished work to date. The songwriting on this album is flawless as it
is bleak and unrelenting in its assault. With opener Surth Lit the Earth
Svartsyn delves deep into the eternal void utilizing subtle melodies and cutting
guitar rhythms. Sanctus Satanas alternates between tempos of blinding rage
and one which embodies the feeling of marching undead hordes. And a sense
of earthen atmosphere sinks in as each trilling melody sweeps across this
natural landscape. Birth of Terror is my favorite song that is sort of
contrary to its name as it is sort of an inspiring song with a very triumphant
main riff. Each song reeks of the deep moss covered recesses of the deep
forest as the production lends a true sense of anti-technology to the album.
No plastic over production will be found here. A band like Svartsyn can
achieve a connection with the listener through sincerity and atmospheric
songwriting that outshines many of their more well known peers like Watain and
Marduk. Not to take anything away from either of those bands, it is just
that Svartsyn appears darker and comes across as having just marched out of the
forest with a banner of anti-xtian hate held high aloft the hordes of unearthly
denizens. If you are unfamiliar with Svartsyn and raw and primitive Swedish
black metal is endeared unto your blackened heart then Timeless Reign should be
at the top of your list of albums to obtain. If you are familiar with
Svartsyn then you should be warned this is their best album yet!!!!