Band: Svartsyn
Title: Wrath Upon The Earth
Label: Agonia Records
Distribution: Agonia Records
Release date: January 24th 2011
Review: CD

Svartsyn were formed in 1991 by Ornias as Chalice, and in 1993 this Swedish project changed its moniker into the current one. All past material was (is) of a superb quality, as from the earliest years. No, this band never reinvented the scene; they are known for unconventional tradition and Scandinavian-oriented grotesquery, yet each time from the highest level of professionalism and craftsmanship.
For Wrath Upon The Earth, Ornias worked with two Belgian brothers / colleagues of Vae Victis / Satyrus-fame, Zoran (aka Remulot) and Baruch (aka Bluetspur) van Bellegem; this time no appearance of long-time session-member Draugen (ex-Dark Funeral, ex-Illska, ex-Incursion) on drums.
After a short yet very eerie intro, Wrath Upon The Earth brings what I expected (and hoped): rather traditional yet intense and obscure Underground Black Metal with the grimmest, most macabre atmosphere and a sore, pungent Purgatory-sound – the latter even more troubled than before. The main tempo is fast to semi-blasting, yet several parts are sluggish, which brings a fine counterpoise. The apocalyptic guitar sound and the slightly mechanical rhythm section (artillery drum patterns, unfortunately under-produced bass lines, and chaotic yet intelligently structured background guitar lines) interfere well with the putrid brimstone-breath.
But… this album seems to be the less inspired one to date, with less variation and an inferior production. Some pieces, of course, are tastefully seraph-molesting, yet in the past this has been done with ‘more and better’??? Don’t get me wrong: I know hundreds of bands that try to copy Svartsyn and allied combos, but that do not succeed, at all, to reach half of these formations’ level.

86/100

Ivan Tibos.