The filthy Norwegian quartet known as Slegest have yet to disappoint yours truly, and this upcoming juggernaut of theirs, which is the fourth full-length onslaught, is a stellar and well-crafted slice of catchy black metal, classic heavy metal, and unpolished rock ‘n’ roll. Revolving around Nietzsche’s The Birth of Tragedy and the idea of the eternal and the infinite, this eight-track slice of darkness is a real barnstormer that throws up surprises and thrills in equal measure.
Given the strength of the songwriting that is on display here, it should come as no surprise that Avstand offers plenty of songs with the power to startle. Swaggering riff-monsters ala ‘Forløysning og Rus’ and ‘Vinterkristus’ are impressive affairs that combine grit and creativity to great effect.
Other exhilarating pieces include the almost punk-like ‘Evigheit På Evigheit’, the brooding opening track titled ‘Innsikt’, and the dynamic ‘Gåte’. All the unique trademarks and characteristics that are synonymous with Slegest are firmly in place, and thanks to its relentless groove and vocalist Stig Ese Eliassen being in blistering form throughout, the LP comes across as utterly robust and aggressively confident. The closing track is a raunchy yet pitch-black rendition of Status Quo’s ‘Oh Baby’, which is certainly an interesting choice yet not a fitting climactic finale to an otherwise inspired opus.
To these ears, Vidsyn (2016) and Introvert (2018) had more of a big sonic impact in terms of sound and production, but Avstand is more accomplished and rewarding with respect to the quality and longevity of the material. You can keep spinning these recklessly crushing and entertaining tunes forever without growing tired of them, which is a testament to just how well-written the cursed thing is. This is razor-sharp Norwegian metal from the wrong side of the tracks that is refreshingly easy to embrace on the first listen. Vigorous stuff.
Avstand will be released by Dark Essence Records on January 20, 2023.
