Band : Whirling
Album title : Faceless Phenomena
Label : Eisenwald
Distributor : /
Release date : February 2010
Release : CD

As you can see in the caption above, this album's already available for some while, but it's not like as if it's gotten a lot of press attention (the only “major” magazine review I found was one in the Summer 2010 issue of Belgium's own Rock Tribune) in the Benelux. So, push comes to shove, I'm happy enough to give the album some attention, as I've found it very enjoyable...and with the last weeks of the year being rather busy in my professional life, I've been able to give the album a few more listening sessions than I usually would've been able to.

The Swedish trio was apparently formed in 2009, when the duo of guitarist Johdet (also known as Jodöden) and drummer “JM” Maklund (both known from Black Metal trio Sorgeldom, which delivered full-length releases in 2009 and May 2010) joined forces with singer/ guitarist/ bassist AE (A. Petterson), who's curriculum started with short-lived Black Metal act Volkenmord (only delivered a self-titled demo in 2000). This reverted to 2-man Black Metal project Armagedda, which has delivered a stream of releases since 2000, the last one an August 2010 EP on the Nordvis Production label). As Leviathan, “A” delivered 2 solo albums, still in the Black Metal vein, in 2001 and 2002...and in 2004 he started Folk Rock/ Metal duo Lönndom (apparently with the same guy with whom he also played in Volkermord and Armagedda), which so far delivered an EP and 2 full-lengths (the last one around the same time as this one, and on the same label).

Seen the band members' antecedents, one might be tempted to describe their new outing as Post-Black Metal, but simplifying things to that level that would be doin' the guys injustice. In fact, the bandname is reflected in the music, which whirls around repetitive but changing melodies. As such, the Avant-Garde categorisation becomes fitting. Add to that the fact that for the most part A uses his voice in a medium-low depressed (say even melancholic) mode, and you're justified to add the term “Dark Rock/ Metal” to the Avant-Garde bit. A touch of Black is nevertheless added though the occasional rougher voice addition of guest singer P. Gustafsson (of Infernal Hellfire, Nex, and Bergraven repute), and in the few harsher (and somewhat twisted) guitar parts which the album boasts. There's also some (limited) use of keyboards on the album: in the album opening instrumental “Prelude” (solo for two pianos), and in one of the 5 other songs on the album. Only 6 songs? Yeah...but they dó last 39 minutes altogether!

You can sample some of the band's music at myspace.com/whirling, where the band not only posted a 5-minute rehearsal, but also full-length versions (good for almost 18 minutes of listening pleasure) of two of the album's songs! I don't know about you, but I'm a sucker for this kind of music, and that's why “faceless Phenomena”, and almost effortlessly,has earned itself a place in my year-lists.

98/100

Tony.