-
Felvum
“Fullmoon Mysticism”
(Plastic Spells & Out of Season, 2022)


In a puzzle of monotony, some pieces push forward, choosing to diverge from the herd. Black Metal is a genre that despite its creative and evolving capacity, sees musicians following the path designed by others, over and over again. Truth be told, the guidelines that were developed in the Past are extremely strong to be let go, and I understand that perfectly, as a music fan; nonetheless, if you choose to do it, try to do it in a way that respects the legacy. And this is my orthodox facet, the side that, in the end, does not want people messing around with Black Metal… if I ever had that power.


Nonetheless, it is with pleasure, and I have written this a thousand times, that I see Black Metal musicians being so true to the sounds of old, and emulating that feeling, today. Felvum is an act I have very recently come across. It is no surprise that I pick up on things rather late, but when I do I like to absorb them, understand them, see where they come from and where the plan on going. Felvum is a Ukrainian project composed of Wanja Mamykin (Mrtva Vod), Crying Orc (Kekht Arakh), and Felnone, and I discovered the band through their collaboration with Uonsket in 2022 (another amazing example of a perfect rendition of Old Black Metal). Felvum plays Black Metal that sounds old and melancholic. The guitar riffs are beautifully constructed, and the overall atmosphere is very soothing. This is not an Atmospheric Black Metal act in any way, but the thing is: these lads can structure a song and extract these feelings out of it. How to explain: this is Black Metal how it was initially - 2nd wave, yes - designed by those crazy geniuses, but at the same time one can almost “see” melodies that are easily associated with Eastern Europe and that romanticism whey find in Kekht Arakh, for example. Fear not! There is this very well-balanced violence and aggressiveness that merges quite well with the already mentioned details.


The focus point is the guitar work, I dare say, but I simply love the drumming, to be honest. They seem to be quite simple and minimalistic, but this might be a characteristic of these younger artists, preferring to keep it simple, but extremely effective! The vocals, the guitar, the drums, the production… this is a Hell of an EP, and it almost a year old, which means that people missed it? The depth in all these 4 songs brings it to a climax, to a level of perfection! Like many of the more recent Black Metal acts, Felvum sounds old and rusty, yet modern, modern in relevancy. Funny how these young lads all around the World are empowering the old flames. Address your full attention to the music playing in the background…

Comentários

Enviar um comentário

Mensagens populares deste blogue

-
Imagem
Beyond Helvete - “Anthem of Decay” (Immortal Frost Productions, 2022). Immortal Frost Productions has given us 2 tremendous Black Metal works this year: Corpus Christii and Pyra. Both different, but both within the realm of Black Metal (and Death Metal). This work, by Beyond Helvete, is the 3 rd IFP work I have access to, and we again drop into the universe of Black Metal. Slightly different from the already mentioned ones, but still ferocious and full of power. Beyond Helvete has been around since 2007, and Natrgaard, the man behind it, has been delivering the goods. Imagine the strength of a band like Marduk, that endurance, that consistent show of power… Beyond Helvete lives in a similar bubble, although not reaching the quality the Swedes have gathered throughout these many years of presence in the Black Metal Global scene. Nonetheless, it sounds as a good example to describe one of the facets of the German musician without limiting it to A or B. The track that names the alb...
Ler mais
-
Imagem
  Psychonaut 4 “… Of Mourning” (Immortal Frost Productions, 2024) Psychonaut 4 have been spreading their specific human condition for several years now, 14 to be more precise, and only now have I contacted their sound! The name was well-known, but the music was not. I have never been a fan of the more depressive side of the genre, and these lads live inside that sphere; thing is, their sound has small details that sound differently. There is a different dynamic in all their sound, an almost progressive and psychedelic approach. No, not a Floydian one, ok? They have guitar solos that sound quite cheerful. Wait… are they not on the depressive side of the globe? Maybe they are… The more you listen to this record, the more you are able to hear the different moments the band has crafted. Several emotions and stages of existence. Funny how their sound has these 2 opponent personas: sadness and joyfulness. Well, I can hear and feel moments of clarity and clear skies. But sadness does ...
Ler mais
-
Imagem
  Kratti “Matka Kohti Kosmista” (Signal Rex, 2024) “Kratti are the ascending newcomers of the bleak fields of Finnish Black Metal!” That is one bold statement, right? You need to be good at something before you go out and say that. Well… let’s find out. Kratti is a 3 man Finnish straight to the throat Black Metal act. They do have a point when they state they are the “…ascending newcomers…”, for their sound is stone cold ripping Black Metal. It is Finnish, and you can almost feel it in your bones. The melodies merged with that Finnish violence – that is not violence, but a harsher approach – that we all love. Come on! It is hard not to enjoy what the Finns have been doing for decades, their mastered sound, their own vision of Black Metal… Kratti goes down that path, successfully, and oh man! I was never into complex music, maybe due to my Hardcore Punk background, so when a band goes straight to the point, I am in for the ride. To say that these lads are doing something tha...
Ler mais