Unexploded Records – 2010-Norway
Norwegian band Gravdal’s second album “Torturmantra” that was published from Swedish label Unexploded after the album “Sadist” draws attention with its qualified structure. The general structure of the album would be called as Norwegian black metal by the first song but it becomes a dark, depressive one as it progresses. Shining’s vocalist Kvartforth is a guest vocalist in the fourth song. (anyhow, he is always a guest vocal in any group) I smell Shining-Livets Andphallplats and Angst as the album goes on. It is said in the band’s bio that the album has “the sound of legendary Bergen black metal”, but will I be wrong if I say I can’t get this legendary sound?
Black clouds, rain and gloomy weather that was thrown Istanbul’s on in last one week help me more to listen that kinds of depressive, dark albums. One positive thing about the band is that they don’t use crying vocals. Agressive vocals are preserved in vocals but I can’t find it in songs themselves. I come across too much both melancholy and depressive black metal parts. This is definitely not a bad album, it is a very good one for it is the work of master ones. Recordings were made by Herband Larsen whom we know from Enslaved. The album is from Bergen and you can come across some black n roll riffs.
We hear Kvartforth’s vocal in the song “Mishandlet,” it took my attention also. I find his vocal good but I think these kind of songs are not suitable for the concept of their album. Indeed, the choice is the band’s, and they put the song in the album. If the truth be told, I can say that this can be regarded as Swedish black metal, not Norwegian. Because Armagedda made these kind of songs in their last album. Chaotic, gloomy and, whip-like.
I can’t talk about the cover of the album etc. in detail because the album came to me in CD with an information page. Lastly, the song “Hyrdestund I Helvete” is a very good one, the general of the album is also satisfactory enough.
7.4/10
