Hailing from Norway’s mystic fjords, SVARTELDER’s third full-length “Trenches” weaves otherworldly Black Metal. The record title comes in like a series from their first full-length “Pyres” to “Pits” and now we are into “Trenches”. Setting a well throughout gaps between each full length, the band is led by vocalist Doedsadmiral (NATTVERD, NORDJEVEL) alongside veteran guitarist Tjalve (FROM THE VASTLAND, HORIZON ABLAZE, BEYOND THE MOON, 1349) and drummer excellence Spektre (FROM THE VASTLAND, 1349 (live), ex – MAYHEM). And this trio played their shadowy songs with channeling the raw spirit of TAAKE, GEHENNA’s brutality, and KAMPFAR’s spiritual angst. They suitably throw in some early teutonic thrashing influences, resulting in a crossover Black Metal album of dynamic proportions. And this felt like a uniquely unsettling dark brew delivered straight from hellish gates. With their atmospheric leaning, tracks come and go with trance-like shifts suddenly, keeping you entranced yet unsure of what to expect next. The mood swings deftly between icy melodicism to explosive violence, plunging the mind into maddening depths. Almost like being in a trench and watch over gnarly warfare around. This reflects from the beginning with ‘Psychotic Symphony’, towards ‘I Give The Stranger A Sign’, ‘Touch This Norwegian Finger’, ‘The Forgiving Isolation’, ‘As All Ends…’, ‘…With Death’ and setting the end with ‘In The Trenches’. The production is modern, but has a certain warmth to it and that aids the very expressing and reflecting lyricism. The album cover emphasizes the forlorn music inside and invites encounter for curious minds. SVARTELDER keeps Black Metal constant evolving through imaginative chaos and proves again, Norway never stops enchanting. Find out more about the band and label at www.facebook.com/svartelderofficial or www.facebook.com/soulsellerrecords