| CD REVIEW Valkyrja |
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Band: Valkyrja Stockholm-based horde Valkyrja return with their second studio full length (after the excellent 2007-release The Invocation Of Demise, which was originally released through Northern Silence, and re-released by Metal Blade last year), which has been recorded, again, at the famous Necromorbus Studio with producer Tore Stjerna (current or former member of e.g. Zavorash, Ofermod, Watain or Into Desolation, to name but a few), who also worked as producer/ engineer for bands as Funeral Mist, Vanmakt, Tribulation, Damnation Army, Sathanas and many, many others. This brings me to Pro #1: the superior, overwhelming, sardonic and overpowering sound, a fist in the face of any god (from a mono-theistic religion, of course), a blessing creating perfection and majesty.Contamination, having a total running time of about fifty seven minutes, doesn’t bore one single second, because of its variety, professional craftsmanship, and unique, powerful songs. The members are very experienced (some are involved with Ondskapt, for example) and it shows. Besides, the members are symbiotic with each other, even though the line-up did change since their last studio effort. In comparison to the debut, the songs on Contamination sound much more ‘complete’, more crushing, and there’s more variation between the songs too. Tempo- and melody-changes, a powerful rhythm, a groovy yet brutal sound, deep and malicious blackish grunts, everything fits, everything hits and hammers. Highly recommended to those who adore the Swedish Blast-Black scene! 88/100 Ivan Tibos. |