The skilled Finnish duo known as Sarvekas has crafted an utterly impressive and highly intriguing EP consisting of five blackened hymns that encompass and embody some of the best and most noteworthy trademarks of uncompromising underground black metal.
Given that Of Atavistic Fury & Visions is not exactly what one would deem original or innovative as such, what makes these guys’ take on the genre special or stand out then? It comes down to the fact that Sarvekas possess an uncanny ability to conjure up a truly sinister aura while simultaneously being capable of churning out some of the best and most haunting riffs that this writer has come across lately.
There is aggression aplenty to be found here and the compositions are relentlessly bleak. On top of that, the amounts of intensity that pour forth from the speakers when blasting this fucker loud is crushing and borderline overwhelming, which is a good thing, mind you. It sounds downright thick and massive throughout and it rarely loses any of its momentum or its strong focus on weaving accessible yet epic melodies together and spawning something that is both layered and compelling. One of the first things that struck yours truly when listening to this ugly little opus is how confident and muscular it comes across, which is merely another way of stating that you need not look any further if you desire vile music with depth and substance to it. In terms of pace and dynamics, this is a most varied offering, but it is consistently pitch black and unsettling from beginning to end; it never waivers from its goal and these songs will undoubtedly keep you on your toes constantly due to the many twists and turns that appear at regular intervals. The vocals keep things interesting too and spew forth words of venom and brilliant madness in a manner most determined and captivating. The EP also strikes a good balance between eerie, dissonant elements and more straightforward, catchy ones, which results in it being rich in wicked contrasts.
In summing up, Of Atavistic Fury & Visions is a memorable slab of exquisitely crafted black metal that reeks of death and decay, and it could easily appeal to fans of orthodox black metal (think some of the French and Swedish outfits out there) as well as adherents of Norwegian acts ala Ragnarok, Taake, and Gehenna.
