Fresh from the bowels of hell comes the Norwegian experimental black metal artillery appropriately named Tilintetgjort (which translated means Annihilated) and what they conjure up on this unpolished debut offering of theirs entitled In Death I Shall Arise is nothing short of ugly, unpleasant, and utterly brilliant to these ears.
With an emphasis on keeping things as raw and nasty as an infested wound while also ensuring that the unsettling and twisted compositions never come across as one-dimensional, listening to this opus is akin to losing oneself in a terrible maze that one does not necessarily wish to escape. Hellish vocals and cryptic riffs engulf you and form an oppressive and oftentimes suffocating soundscape that threatens to overwhelm the senses and stimulate one’s destructive instincts.
As tempting as it is to label the record a nightmarish experience due to its sinister ability to enthral anyone that is susceptible to its sick charm, it is strangely seductive and beautiful in parts too. The opening salvo of ‘Kvikksølvdrømmer’ is a prime example of how to craft a harsh, punishing tune that incorporates segments harbouring an understated and subtle sense of melancholy and grace. Although early Norwegian black metal undoubtedly serves as an influence on these gentlemen, this concise and superbly written six-song effort feels like so much more than that; it is almost as if the aura that it evokes defies and transcends the confines and conventions of the aforementioned genre.
What we have here is black metal injected with personality and a palpable sense of musical identity, if you will. The loose and organic vibe, which is surely a result of having been recorded mostly live in the studio, makes the album even more intense and efficient; its frenzied and restless atmosphere feels almost too real and overpowering at times. Speaking of which, one simply has to experience the tour de force that is ‘Dommedagsmonument’, which is a stately and towering 21-minute display of despair and abhorrence filled to the brim with surprising turns.
Quite accessible in some ways but sufficiently layered and varied to warrant an endless number of streams and spins, this is one of those outputs that will reward the focused and patient listener. The bleak and darkly enticing piece named ‘Vinter og Høst’ is a personal favourite on the disc but the fact is that there are no fillers to be found here. In Death I Shall Arise is a quality underground metal track that will leave you feeling miserable and reflective but in the best possible way.
In Death I Shall Arise will be released by Dark Essence Records on March 31, 2023.
https://tilintetgjort.bandcamp.com/album/in-death-i-shall-arise
